Question 1hardmultiple choice
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Question 1,355 of 1,052
hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
CCNA Practice Question: A network administrator is troubleshooting…
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of 200-301 exam topics. 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.
Exhibit
BranchA# show ip route
Codes: L - local, C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route
Gateway of last resort is 10.1.1.2 to network 0.0.0.0
S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 10.1.1.2
10.0.0.0/8 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C 10.1.1.0/24 is directly connected, Serial0/0/0
L 10.1.1.1/32 is directly connected, Serial0/0/0
192.168.1.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C 192.168.1.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
L 192.168.1.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0A network administrator is troubleshooting connectivity issues between two branch offices connected via a WAN link. Hosts on Branch A can ping the Branch A router's LAN interface but cannot ping the Branch B router's LAN interface. The Branch A router has a static default route pointing to the WAN interface. The show ip route command output is provided. 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
✓
There is no route to the Branch B LAN subnet.
The correct answer is B. The show ip route output shows a static default route pointing to next-hop IP 10.1.1.2, which is the Branch B router's WAN interface. However, there is no route to the Branch B LAN subnet (e.g., 192.168.2.0/24). The default route will only forward packets to destinations not in the routing table, but the Branch B router may not have a return route, or more likely, the Branch A router does not have a specific route to Branch B's LAN. The symptom (can ping local LAN but not remote LAN) indicates a missing route to the remote LAN. Option A is wrong because the default route is present. Option C is wrong because the WAN interface is up as shown by the directly connected routes. Option D is wrong because the routing table shows no specific route to the remote LAN, not a misconfigured next-hop (the next-hop is correct for the default route).
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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 default route has an incorrect administrative distance.
Why it's wrong here
The administrative distance of 1 is standard for static routes and is not the issue.
- ✓
There is no route to the Branch B LAN subnet.
Why this is correct
The routing table shows only the directly connected networks and a default route. Without a specific route to the Branch B LAN (e.g., 192.168.2.0/24), packets destined for that subnet are forwarded via the default route, but the Branch B router may not have a return route, or the path is incomplete.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- ✗
The WAN interface is administratively down.
Why it's wrong here
The WAN interface Serial0/0/0 is shown as directly connected, indicating it is up/up.
- ✗
The default route next-hop IP address is incorrect.
Why it's wrong here
The next-hop 10.1.1.2 is the Branch B router's WAN IP, which is reachable since the Branch A router has a directly connected route to 10.1.1.0/24.
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.
✓There is no route to the Branch B LAN subnet.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The routing table shows only the directly connected networks and a default route. Without a specific route to the Branch B LAN (e.g., 192.168.2.0/24), packets destined for that subnet are forwarded via the default route, but the Branch B router may not have a return route, or the path is incomplete.
✗The default route has an incorrect administrative distance.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The default route is present and has the correct AD; the problem is a missing specific route.
✗The WAN interface is administratively down.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The interface is up; the problem is routing, not interface state.
✗The default route next-hop IP address is incorrect.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The next-hop is correct for the default route; the issue is the missing specific route.
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: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The WAN interface Serial0/0/0 is shown as directly connected, indicating it is up/up.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related 200-301 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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Related 200-301 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: There is no route to the Branch B LAN subnet. — The correct answer is B. The show ip route output shows a static default route pointing to next-hop IP 10.1.1.2, which is the Branch B router's WAN interface. However, there is no route to the Branch B LAN subnet (e.g., 192.168.2.0/24). The default route will only forward packets to destinations not in the routing table, but the Branch B router may not have a return route, or more likely, the Branch A router does not have a specific route to Branch B's LAN. The symptom (can ping local LAN but not remote LAN) indicates a missing route to the remote LAN. Option A is wrong because the default route is present. Option C is wrong because the WAN interface is up as shown by the directly connected routes. Option D is wrong because the routing table shows no specific route to the remote LAN, not a misconfigured next-hop (the next-hop is correct for the default route).
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related 200-301 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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