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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

R1# show ip route 10.0.0.5
Routing entry for 10.0.0.0/24
  Known via "connected", distance 0, metric 0 (connected)
  Routing Descriptor Blocks:
  * 10.0.0.1, via GigabitEthernet0/1
      Route metric is 0, traffic share count is 1

R1# show ip route | begin Gateway
Gateway of last resort is not set

      10.0.0.0/8 is variably subnetted, 3 subnets, 3 masks
C        10.0.0.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/1
O        10.0.0.0/16 [110/2] via 192.168.2.2, 00:00:15, GigabitEthernet0/0
O        10.0.0.0/8 [110/3] via 192.168.3.2, 00:00:20, GigabitEthernet0/2

A network administrator is troubleshooting connectivity from a PC (192.168.1.10/24) to a server at 10.0.0.5/24. The PC's default gateway is 192.168.1.1. The administrator checks the routing table on Router R1 (connected to the PC's VLAN) and notices that traffic to the server is being forwarded incorrectly. Based on the output, what is the most likely cause of the issue?

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.

Question 1hardmultiple choice
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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 directly connected route to 10.0.0.0/24 is the most specific match but is incorrect for the destination.

The root cause is that the router has a directly connected route for 10.0.0.0/24 on GigabitEthernet0/1, which is the most specific match (longest prefix) for destination 10.0.0.5. However, this subnet is actually not reachable via that interface (it might be a misconfiguration or a loopback that should not be used for forwarding to that server). The correct fix is to remove or adjust the directly connected route. Option A is incorrect because administrative distance is not the issue—the directly connected route has AD 0, which is preferred, but it is the wrong route. Option C is incorrect because the route to 10.0.0.0/8 has a higher AD (110) and is less specific. Option D is incorrect because there is no default route, but the router does have a specific route that is causing the problem.

Key principle: A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.

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 route to 10.0.0.0/16 has a lower administrative distance than the directly connected route.

    Why it's wrong here

    The directly connected route has AD 0, which is always preferred over OSPF routes (AD 110).

  • ✓

    The directly connected route to 10.0.0.0/24 is the most specific match but is incorrect for the destination.

    Why this is correct

    The longest-prefix match algorithm selects 10.0.0.0/24 over /16 or /8, but this route points to an interface that cannot reach 10.0.0.5.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.

  • ✗

    The route to 10.0.0.0/8 has a higher metric, so it is not used.

    Why it's wrong here

    The metric (3 for /8) is irrelevant because the longest-prefix match is /24, which is more specific.

  • ✗

    The router does not have a default route, so traffic to 10.0.0.5 is dropped.

    Why it's wrong here

    The router does have a matching route (10.0.0.0/24), so it forwards traffic, but to the wrong interface.

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 directly connected route to 10.0.0.0/24 is the most specific match but is incorrect for the destination.Correct answer▾

Why this is correct

The longest-prefix match algorithm selects 10.0.0.0/24 over /16 or /8, but this route points to an interface that cannot reach 10.0.0.5.

✗The route to 10.0.0.0/16 has a lower administrative distance than the directly connected route.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

You might think that OSPF routes are more reliable, but directly connected routes are always preferred regardless of AD.

✗The route to 10.0.0.0/8 has a higher metric, so it is not used.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

You might confuse metric with prefix length; metric only matters when prefix lengths are equal.

✗The router does not have a default route, so traffic to 10.0.0.5 is dropped.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

A default route is only used when no more specific route exists; here a specific route exists.

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: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need

A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
  • Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
  • Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
  • Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.

TExam Day Tips

  • Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
  • Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
  • Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.

Key takeaway

A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 200-301 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 200-301 question test?

Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The directly connected route to 10.0.0.0/24 is the most specific match but is incorrect for the destination. — The root cause is that the router has a directly connected route for 10.0.0.0/24 on GigabitEthernet0/1, which is the most specific match (longest prefix) for destination 10.0.0.5. However, this subnet is actually not reachable via that interface (it might be a misconfiguration or a loopback that should not be used for forwarding to that server). The correct fix is to remove or adjust the directly connected route. Option A is incorrect because administrative distance is not the issue—the directly connected route has AD 0, which is preferred, but it is the wrong route. Option C is incorrect because the route to 10.0.0.0/8 has a higher AD (110) and is less specific. Option D is incorrect because there is no default route, but the router does have a specific route that is causing the problem.

What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?

Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 200-301 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.

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?

Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.

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