- A
The PC's DNS server address is incorrect.
Why wrong: DNS issues would affect name resolution, but not the ability to ping an IP address or traceroute to an IP.
- B
The switch port is in an administratively down state.
Why wrong: An administratively down switch port would cause the link to go down, and ipconfig would show 'Media disconnected' rather than an APIPA address.
- C
The Ethernet cable is unplugged from the PC.
Why wrong: If the Ethernet cable were unplugged, the interface would be disconnected and ipconfig would not display a 169.254.x.x address; it would indicate 'Media disconnected'.
- D
The DHCP server is unreachable.
The 169.254.x.x APIPA address indicates that the PC is configured for DHCP but did not receive a DHCP offer. Because the address is not in the same subnet as the default gateway, all connectivity beyond the local link fails.
CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network infrastructure and connectivity. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A user reports they cannot access any network resources. A network administrator runs ipconfig on the user's Windows PC and sees an IPv4 address of 169.254.45.3/16. The administrator then pings the default gateway 10.0.0.1, which fails, and uses traceroute to 10.0.0.1, which shows only '1 * * * Request timed out.' What is the most likely cause of the problem?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The DHCP server is unreachable.
The 169.254.45.3/16 address is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, assigned by Windows when a DHCP discovery fails. The failed ping and traceroute to the default gateway confirm that the PC has no IP connectivity to the network. Since the PC is on the same subnet as the DHCP server (10.0.0.0/24), the most likely cause is that the DHCP server is unreachable, preventing the PC from obtaining a valid IP address.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The PC's DNS server address is incorrect.
Why it's wrong here
DNS issues would affect name resolution, but not the ability to ping an IP address or traceroute to an IP.
- ✗
The switch port is in an administratively down state.
Why it's wrong here
An administratively down switch port would cause the link to go down, and ipconfig would show 'Media disconnected' rather than an APIPA address.
- ✗
The Ethernet cable is unplugged from the PC.
Why it's wrong here
If the Ethernet cable were unplugged, the interface would be disconnected and ipconfig would not display a 169.254.x.x address; it would indicate 'Media disconnected'.
- ✓
The DHCP server is unreachable.
Why this is correct
The 169.254.x.x APIPA address indicates that the PC is configured for DHCP but did not receive a DHCP offer. Because the address is not in the same subnet as the default gateway, all connectivity beyond the local link fails.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
✓The DHCP server is unreachable.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The 169.254.x.x APIPA address indicates that the PC is configured for DHCP but did not receive a DHCP offer. Because the address is not in the same subnet as the default gateway, all connectivity beyond the local link fails.
✗The PC's DNS server address is incorrect.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DNS misconfiguration would not prevent direct IP connectivity to the gateway.
✗The switch port is in an administratively down state.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
With the port down, the PC would not assign any IP address; APIPA assignment requires an active link.
✗The Ethernet cable is unplugged from the PC.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Physical disconnection prevents link establishment, so no IP address is assigned.
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?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between a link-local APIPA address and a 'Media disconnected' state; the trap here is that candidates may assume a physical issue (unplugged cable or disabled port) when the presence of an APIPA address actually proves the physical and data link layers are operational.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
An administratively down switch port would cause the link to go down, and ipconfig would show 'Media disconnected' rather than an APIPA address.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
APIPA (RFC 3927) uses the 169.254.0.0/16 range and is a link-local addressing mechanism that allows basic communication on a single subnet without a DHCP server. The DHCP process involves a four-step handshake (DORA: Discover, Offer, Request, Acknowledge); if the Discover broadcast is not answered, Windows falls back to APIPA after a timeout. In this scenario, the PC's ability to obtain an APIPA address indicates Layer 1 and Layer 2 are functional (cable connected, switch port up), but Layer 3 connectivity to the DHCP server is broken, possibly due to a misconfigured DHCP relay, a firewall blocking UDP port 67/68, or the DHCP server being down.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — This question tests Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The DHCP server is unreachable. — The 169.254.45.3/16 address is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, assigned by Windows when a DHCP discovery fails. The failed ping and traceroute to the default gateway confirm that the PC has no IP connectivity to the network. Since the PC is on the same subnet as the DHCP server (10.0.0.0/24), the most likely cause is that the DHCP server is unreachable, preventing the PC from obtaining a valid IP address.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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.
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