CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
Exhibit
AP-22 status: - Ethernet link: up - IP address: 10.75.22.18/24 - Default gateway: 10.75.21.1 - Controller: 10.75.22.5 - Other APs joined: yes
Based on the exhibit, which action is most likely required to allow AP-22 to join the controller successfully?
⚠ Common exam trap
Avoid assuming resets or updates fix network configuration issues; focus on Layer 3 settings like gateways.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Correct the AP's default gateway so it matches the AP's actual subnet and reachability needs.
The correct action is to fix the AP's default gateway so it can reach the controller's subnet. Option B is wrong because APs use Ethernet, not PPP encapsulation, which is used for serial WAN links. Option C is wrong because CAPWAP does not assign IP addresses; DHCP does, but the AP already has a static IP, and removing it would cause it to fall back to DHCP, which may not fix the gateway issue. Option D is wrong because disabling DHCP on the controller would affect all APs and prevent new APs from obtaining addresses, which is not a targeted fix.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Correct the AP's default gateway so it matches the AP's actual subnet and reachability needs.
Why this is correct
The AP's IP address and its default gateway must reside in the same Layer 3 subnet; the exhibit shows a mismatch, so the AP cannot route CAPWAP discovery or join messages toward the wireless LAN controller. With an incorrect gateway, the AP's forwarding table sends management traffic to a non-existent or unreachable next hop, effectively isolating the AP from the controller. Correcting the gateway to match the actual subnet and reachability path restores proper IP routing and allows the AP to complete the join process.
- ✗
Change the AP from Ethernet to PPP encapsulation.
Why it's wrong here
PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) is a WAN encapsulation used on serial or dial-up links, not on Ethernet LAN segments where access points typically connect. Changing the AP's encapsulation to PPP would not affect CAPWAP, which runs over UDP/IP and expects Ethernet framing on the local LAN. The exhibit gives no indication of a serial link or PPP requirement, so this action is unrelated to the AP's inability to join the controller.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the exam question specifies that the AP is in a network environment that exclusively supports PPP for WAN connections, changing the AP to PPP encapsulation would be necessary for it to communicate with the controller.
- ✗
Remove the AP IP address so it can obtain an IP address automatically via DHCP.
Why it's wrong here
Removing the static IP and switching to DHCP does not address the root cause because the problem is a layer 3 reachability misconfiguration, not the method of address assignment. If the DHCP scope also provides the same incorrect default gateway, the AP will obtain a valid address but still be unable to reach the controller. Even a dynamically assigned address requires a correct gateway to forward CAPWAP traffic; the static IP itself is not preventing the AP from joining.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where an AP is configured with a static IP address that conflicts with another device on the network, removing the AP's IP address could allow CAPWAP to assign a new, non-conflicting IP address automatically, enabling successful communication with the controller.
- ✗
Disable DHCP on the controller for all APs.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling DHCP on the controller globally is incorrect because the exhibit indicates that the problem is specific to this AP's default gateway, and other APs are already joining successfully. Such a global change would disrupt DHCP-based provisioning for all access points, including the healthy ones, without correcting the faulty gateway on the problematic AP. The issue lies in the AP's local IP routing configuration, not in the controller's DHCP service.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where the question specifies that APs are configured with static IP addresses and the controller is set to use only static IPs, disabling DHCP could be the correct action to ensure that no conflicting DHCP assignments occur.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Correct the AP's default gateway so it matches the AP's actual subnet and reachability needs.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The AP's IP address and its default gateway must reside in the same Layer 3 subnet; the exhibit shows a mismatch, so the AP cannot route CAPWAP discovery or join messages toward the wireless LAN controller. With an incorrect gateway, the AP's forwarding table sends management traffic to a non-existent or unreachable next hop, effectively isolating the AP from the controller. Correcting the gateway to match the actual subnet and reachability path restores proper IP routing and allows the AP to complete the join process.
✗Change the AP from Ethernet to PPP encapsulation.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is wrong because APs typically use Ethernet for connectivity to the controller, and changing to PPP encapsulation is not a standard requirement for AP operation in most environments.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the exam question specifies that the AP is in a network environment that exclusively supports PPP for WAN connections, changing the AP to PPP encapsulation would be necessary for it to communicate with the controller.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might choose this option due to a misunderstanding of encapsulation types and their relevance to AP connectivity, leading them to think that changing encapsulation could resolve connectivity issues.
✗Remove the AP IP address so it can obtain an IP address automatically via DHCP.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
CAPWAP does not assign IP addresses; DHCP does, but the AP already has a static IP and removing it would not fix the gateway mismatch.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where an AP is configured with a static IP address that conflicts with another device on the network, removing the AP's IP address could allow CAPWAP to assign a new, non-conflicting IP address automatically, enabling successful communication with the controller.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of how CAPWAP operates, believing that removing the IP address would simplify the AP's connection process, especially if they have encountered similar situations in other networking contexts.
✗Disable DHCP on the controller for all APs.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Disabling DHCP on the controller would prevent APs from obtaining IP addresses dynamically, which is contrary to the typical configuration needed for APs to join a controller successfully. APs require DHCP to receive their IP addresses unless they are statically assigned.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where the question specifies that APs are configured with static IP addresses and the controller is set to use only static IPs, disabling DHCP could be the correct action to ensure that no conflicting DHCP assignments occur.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of DHCP's role in the AP joining process, believing that disabling DHCP would simplify the connection process when, in fact, it complicates it for dynamically assigned IPs.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Visual reference
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Configuring Switch Ports for Desktops, VoIP Phones, APs, IoT, and Virtualized Hosts
Key term
CAN
A CAN (Controller Area Network) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.
Key term
CAPWAP
CAPWAP (Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points) is a standard protocol that allows a central controller to manage multiple wireless access points, separating the control plane from the data plane in a wireless network.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.