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CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
Drag and drop the following steps into the correct order to configure a Windows 10 host with a static IPv4 address, subnet mask, and default gateway.
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
✓
Open Control Panel and navigate to Network and Sharing Center.
The correct order begins with opening Network and Sharing Center to access network settings. Then, you must click 'Change adapter settings' to see the list of network connections. Right-clicking the appropriate adapter and selecting Properties opens its configuration. Selecting IPv4 and clicking Properties allows you to set the IP parameters. Choosing 'Use the following IP address' enables the fields for static input. Finally, entering the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway followed by OK/Close applies the configuration. This sequence follows the logical navigation of the Windows GUI to reach the static IP assignment interface.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Open Control Panel and navigate to Network and Sharing Center.
Why this is correct
This is the correct initial step because the Network and Sharing Center is the central Windows shell for inspecting active network connections and launching configuration tasks. It exposes the 'Change adapter settings' link and status information about the NIC's connectivity and media state. All subsequent steps branch from this Control Panel entry point, making it the necessary gateway for manual TCP/IP configuration.
- ✓
Click 'Change adapter settings' in the left pane.
Why this is correct
Clicking 'Change adapter settings' in the left pane opens the Network Connections folder, which enumerates every physical and virtual network interface on the system. This is the required location to select the specific NIC—wired, wireless, or virtual—that will receive the static IPv4 parameters. The Network and Sharing Center itself does not let you configure an adapter directly, so this navigation step is mandatory.
- ✓
Right-click the appropriate network adapter and select 'Properties'.
Why this is correct
Right-clicking the chosen adapter and selecting Properties invokes the interface's property sheet, a list of bound network items such as Clients, Services, and Protocols. This is the only way to reach the configuration dialog for TCP/IPv4, because the protocol checkbox itself is nested inside this sheet. Administrative privilege may be required here depending on the system's UAC policy.
- ✓
Select 'Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)' and click 'Properties'.
Why this is correct
Selecting 'Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)' highlights the protocol stack that governs IPv4 addressing and global routing. Clicking Properties exposes the dialog where the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway can be manually entered. This step is necessary because all static IPv4 settings are scoped to this protocol instance; leaving it blank would keep the adapter on DHCP.
- ✓
Choose 'Use the following IP address'.
Why this is correct
Choosing 'Use the following IP address' toggles the configuration mode from automatic DHCP discovery to manual entry. This radio button disables the default DHCP fields and enables the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway text boxes. It is an essential explicit declaration that the host should not request addressing information from a DHCP server.
- ✓
Enter the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway, then click 'OK' and 'Close'.
Why this is correct
Entering a valid IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway and then clicking 'OK' and 'Close' applies the settings to the adapter's TCP/IPv4 stack. The subnet mask defines the local network boundary, and the gateway must be reachable on that same subnet for off-network traffic. The 'OK' button commits the configuration to the registry and triggers a reconfiguration of the interface; 'Close' exits the adapter properties.
Visual reference
Quick reference
IPv4 Address Class Summary
| Class | First Octet Range | Default Mask | Networks | Hosts per Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1–126 | /8 (255.0.0.0) | 126 | 16,777,214 |
| B | 128–191 | /16 (255.255.0.0) | 16,384 | 65,534 |
| C | 192–223 | /24 (255.255.255.0) | 2,097,152 | 254 |
| D | 224–239 | N/A | Multicast groups | — |
| E | 240–255 | N/A | Reserved / experimental | — |
127.x.x.x is reserved for loopback. Modern networks use CIDR (classless) rather than classful addressing.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
IPv4 Addressing and Address Classes
Key term
Default gateway
A default gateway is a network device, typically a router, that acts as the exit point for traffic from a local network to other networks, including the internet.
Key term
Interface
An interface is a point of connection or interaction between two systems, devices, or software components that allows them to exchange information or signals.
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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.