Question 1hardmultiple choice
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Question 298 of 1,052
hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
CCNA Practice Question: A network administrator is troubleshooting a…
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
R1# show standby
Vlan10 - Group 1
State is Active
2 state changes, last state change 00:03:45
Virtual IP address is 192.168.10.1
Active virtual MAC address is 0000.0c07.ac01
Local virtual MAC address is 0000.0c07.ac01 (v1 default)
Hello time 3 sec, hold time 10 sec
Next hello sent in 1.920 secs
Preemption disabled
Active router is local
Standby router is 192.168.10.3, priority 100 (expires in 8.928 sec)
Priority 110 (configured 110)
Group name is "hsrp-Vlan10-1" (v1)
R2# show standby
Vlan10 - Group 1
State is Standby
3 state changes, last state change 00:03:42
Virtual IP address is 192.168.10.1
Active virtual MAC address is 0000.0c07.ac01
Local virtual MAC address is 0000.0c07.ac02 (v1 default)
Hello time 3 sec, hold time 10 sec
Next hello sent in 0.432 secs
Preemption disabled
Active router is 192.168.10.2, priority 110
Standby router is local
Priority 100 (configured 100)
Group name is "hsrp-Vlan10-1" (v1)A network administrator is troubleshooting a connectivity issue on a subnet where two routers, R1 and R2, are configured with HSRP to provide a virtual gateway. Hosts on the subnet can ping the virtual IP address but cannot reach destinations outside the subnet. The administrator issues the show standby command on both routers. Based on the output, what is the root cause of the problem?
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
✓
Configure a default route on R1 pointing to the next-hop router.
The root cause is that R1 is the Active router but has no route to the outside network. The show standby output confirms R1 is Active with priority 110, and R2 is Standby with priority 100. Since hosts can ping the virtual IP but cannot reach external destinations, the problem is likely that the Active router lacks a default route or proper routing. The solution is to configure a default route on R1. The other options are incorrect: preemption is disabled but that does not affect functionality; the virtual MAC is correct; and the standby router is reachable (hello timers are normal).
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.
- ✓
Configure a default route on R1 pointing to the next-hop router.
Why this is correct
This is correct because R1 is the Active HSRP router and is responsible for forwarding traffic from hosts to external networks. Without a default route, R1 drops packets destined outside the subnet.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- ✗
Enable preemption on both routers to ensure the higher-priority router stays active.
Why it's wrong here
Preemption is not needed here because the current Active router already has the higher priority (110 vs 100). Preemption only helps when a higher-priority router recovers after a failure.
- ✗
Change the virtual MAC address on R2 to match the one on R1.
Why it's wrong here
The virtual MAC address is automatically derived from the HSRP group and is the same for both routers (0000.0c07.ac01 for Active). R2's local virtual MAC is different because it is used only when R2 becomes Active.
- ✗
Increase the hello timer on R1 to match the hold timer on R2.
Why it's wrong here
The hello and hold timers are consistent (3 sec hello, 10 sec hold) and are not causing any issues. Adjusting timers would not fix the routing problem.
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.
✓Configure a default route on R1 pointing to the next-hop router.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because R1 is the Active HSRP router and is responsible for forwarding traffic from hosts to external networks. Without a default route, R1 drops packets destined outside the subnet.
✗Enable preemption on both routers to ensure the higher-priority router stays active.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Active router already has the higher priority, so preemption would not change the active role or fix the routing issue.
✗Change the virtual MAC address on R2 to match the one on R1.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The virtual MAC address is correct; mismatched MACs are not the cause of the problem.
✗Increase the hello timer on R1 to match the hold timer on R2.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The timers are already consistent and functioning normally; the issue is routing, not HSRP timer misconfiguration.
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.
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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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: Configure a default route on R1 pointing to the next-hop router. — The root cause is that R1 is the Active router but has no route to the outside network. The show standby output confirms R1 is Active with priority 110, and R2 is Standby with priority 100. Since hosts can ping the virtual IP but cannot reach external destinations, the problem is likely that the Active router lacks a default route or proper routing. The solution is to configure a default route on R1. The other options are incorrect: preemption is disabled but that does not affect functionality; the virtual MAC is correct; and the standby router is reachable (hello timers are normal).
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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