Question 214 of 1,052
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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.

A network administrator is troubleshooting a Windows 10 client that cannot access a web server at 192.168.1.100. The client has an IP address of 192.168.1.50/24 and can ping its default gateway (192.168.1.1) successfully, but ping to 192.168.1.100 fails. Which command should the administrator run next to verify the client's current network connections and identify potential issues with active sessions?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

  • Clue: "which command"

    Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.

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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

netstat -a

The correct answer is 'netstat -a' because it displays all active TCP connections and listening ports, which can help identify if the client has any established sessions or if the web server's port (e.g., 80) is reachable from the client's perspective. The scenario indicates basic connectivity (ping to gateway works) but failure to reach a specific host, suggesting a possible application-layer or session issue. 'ipconfig /all' shows IP configuration but not active connections. 'tracert' traces the route but assumes Layer 3 reachability, which is already failing. 'ping -t' continuously pings but does not provide session-level details.

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.

  • ipconfig /all

    Why it's wrong here

    This command displays detailed IP configuration, including DNS servers and MAC addresses, which is useful for verifying addressing information but does not show active network connections or sessions.

  • netstat -a

    Why this is correct

    This command shows all active TCP connections and listening ports on the client, allowing the administrator to see if there are any established sessions to the web server or if the web server's port is being blocked or not responding.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • tracert 192.168.1.100

    Why it's wrong here

    Tracert performs a route trace to the destination, which requires that the destination is reachable at Layer 3; since ping already failed, tracert will likely also fail and does not provide information about active connections.

  • ping -t 192.168.1.100

    Why it's wrong here

    The -t option sends continuous pings, which is useful for monitoring stability but does not reveal connection states or listening ports; it only tests ICMP reachability, which has already failed.

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.

netstat -aCorrect answer

Why this is correct

This command shows all active TCP connections and listening ports on the client, allowing the administrator to see if there are any established sessions to the web server or if the web server's port is being blocked or not responding.

ipconfig /allWrong answer — click to see why

Why this is wrong here

While ipconfig /all can confirm the client's IP settings are correct, it does not provide information about current TCP connections or listening ports, which are needed to troubleshoot why a specific host is unreachable despite successful gateway pings.

tracert 192.168.1.100Wrong answer — click to see why

Why this is wrong here

Tracert is useful for identifying path issues but assumes Layer 3 connectivity; in this case, the failure is likely at a higher layer, making netstat a more appropriate next step.

ping -t 192.168.1.100Wrong answer — click to see why

Why this is wrong here

Continuous pinging would just repeat the same failure without providing additional diagnostic information about why the web server is not responding or if a firewall is blocking the connection.

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

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Trap categories for this question

  • Command / output trap

    This command displays detailed IP configuration, including DNS servers and MAC addresses, which is useful for verifying addressing information but does not show active network connections or sessions.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

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.
  • Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

  • Underline the problem statement mentally.
  • 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 practitioner preparing for the 200-301 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which 200-301 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 200-301 question test?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: netstat -a — The correct answer is 'netstat -a' because it displays all active TCP connections and listening ports, which can help identify if the client has any established sessions or if the web server's port (e.g., 80) is reachable from the client's perspective. The scenario indicates basic connectivity (ping to gateway works) but failure to reach a specific host, suggesting a possible application-layer or session issue. 'ipconfig /all' shows IP configuration but not active connections. 'tracert' traces the route but assumes Layer 3 reachability, which is already failing. 'ping -t' continuously pings but does not provide session-level details.

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

Identify which 200-301 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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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.