CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
A network administrator receives a report that a user on a Windows laptop cannot connect to the internet, although other devices on the same subnet are working. The administrator runs `ipconfig` on the laptop and sees an IP address of 169.254.15.22 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 and no default gateway. Based on this output, what is the most likely cause of the connectivity issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between APIPA and other IP assignment failures, and the trap here is that candidates may confuse a DHCP failure with a physical layer issue (faulty cable) or a DNS misconfiguration, not realizing that APIPA is a specific Windows behavior triggered only by DHCP unavailability.
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 or not responding to the laptop's DHCP request.
The IP address 169.254.15.22 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, which Windows assigns when a DHCP client fails to obtain a lease from a DHCP server. The absence of a default gateway confirms that the laptop cannot reach any DHCP server, as APIPA addresses are not routable and are only used for link-local communication. Therefore, the most likely cause is that the DHCP server is unreachable or not responding to the laptop's DHCP request.
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 laptop's DNS server settings are incorrect.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect DNS settings would not prevent the laptop from obtaining an IP address via DHCP; the laptop would still get a valid IP and gateway but fail to resolve names. The APIPA address indicates a DHCP failure, not a DNS problem.
- ✓
The DHCP server is unreachable or not responding to the laptop's DHCP request.
Why this is correct
APIPA is assigned when a DHCP client fails to receive a DHCPOFFER after sending DHCPDISCOVER messages. This typically means the DHCP server is down, misconfigured, or the laptop cannot reach it due to a network issue (e.g., VLAN mismatch, switch port problem).
- ✗
The laptop has a static IP address configured that conflicts with another device.
Why it's wrong here
A static IP address would not be 169.254.x.x unless manually set, which is unlikely. An IP conflict would produce a different symptom (e.g., intermittent connectivity, error message) and the laptop would still show a manually configured gateway.
- ✗
The Ethernet cable is faulty or disconnected.
Why it's wrong here
A faulty cable would cause the network adapter to show 'Network cable unplugged' or a link status of 'Disconnected' in ipconfig, not an APIPA address. APIPA is only assigned when the interface has link but no DHCP response.
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 or not responding to the laptop's DHCP request.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
APIPA is assigned when a DHCP client fails to receive a DHCPOFFER after sending DHCPDISCOVER messages. This typically means the DHCP server is down, misconfigured, or the laptop cannot reach it due to a network issue (e.g., VLAN mismatch, switch port problem).
✗The laptop's DNS server settings are incorrect.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The APIPA address indicates a DHCP failure, not a DNS problem.
✗The laptop has a static IP address configured that conflicts with another device.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A static IP conflict would not result in an APIPA address; the laptop would show the manually configured IP, not 169.254.x.x.
✗The Ethernet cable is faulty or disconnected.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A physical cable issue would prevent link, so the laptop would not even attempt DHCP and would not get an APIPA address.
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?”
Visual reference
Quick reference
IPv4 Address Class Summary
| Class | First Octet Range | Default Mask | Networks | Hosts per Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1–126 | /8 (255.0.0.0) | 126 | 16,777,214 |
| B | 128–191 | /16 (255.255.0.0) | 16,384 | 65,534 |
| C | 192–223 | /24 (255.255.255.0) | 2,097,152 | 254 |
| D | 224–239 | N/A | Multicast groups | — |
| E | 240–255 | N/A | Reserved / experimental | — |
127.x.x.x is reserved for loopback. Modern networks use CIDR (classless) rather than classful addressing.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
IPv4 Addressing and Address Classes
Key term
Automatic Private Internet Protocol Addressing
A fallback method used by a device to automatically assign itself an IP address when it cannot obtain one from a DHCP server.
Key term
Subnet
A subnet is a logical subdivision of an IP network, created by partitioning a larger network address space using subnet masks.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.