Question 1hardmultiple choice
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Question 990 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
Switch#show interfaces GigabitEthernet0/1 status Port Name Status Vlan Duplex Speed Type Gi0/1 connected 10 a-full a-100 10/100/1000BaseTX Switch#show running-config interface GigabitEthernet0/1 interface GigabitEthernet0/1 switchport mode access switchport access vlan 10 spanning-tree portfast end Switch#show ip interface GigabitEthernet0/1 GigabitEthernet0/1 is up, line protocol is up Internet address is 192.168.1.1/24 Broadcast address is 255.255.255.255 Address determined by non-volatile memory MTU is 1500 bytes Helper address is 0.0.0.0 Directed broadcast forwarding is disabled Outgoing access list is not set Inbound access list is not set Proxy ARP is enabled Local Proxy ARP is disabled Security level is default Split horizon is enabled ICMP redirects are always sent ICMP unreachables are always sent ICMP mask replies are never sent IP fast switching is enabled IP CEF switching is enabled IP CEF switching turbo vector IP multicast fast switching is enabled IP multicast distributed fast switching is disabled IP route-cache flags are Fast, CEF Router Discovery is disabled IP output packet accounting is disabled IP access violation accounting is disabled TCP/IP header compression is disabled RTP/IP header compression is disabled Probe proxy name replies are disabled Policy routing is disabled Network address translation is disabled WCCP Redirect outbound is disabled WCCP Redirect inbound is disabled WCCP Redirect exclude is disabled BGP Policy Mapping is disabled Switch#show vlan brief VLAN Name Status Ports ---- -------------------------------- --------- ------------------------------- 1 default active Gi0/2, Gi0/3, Gi0/4 10 VLAN0010 active Gi0/1 1002 fddi-default act/unsup 1003 trcrf-default act/unsup 1004 fddinet-default act/unsup 1005 trbrf-default act/unsup
A network administrator is troubleshooting connectivity issues for a Windows 10 client connected to an access switch port. The client can ping its own IP address and the default gateway, but cannot ping a server at 10.10.10.50 located on a different subnet. The switch port is up/up and the client has a valid IP address from DHCP. What is the most likely cause of this 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.
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 switch lacks a default route to forward traffic to the upstream router.
The client can ping its own IP and default gateway, but cannot reach a server on a different subnet. This indicates that the client has connectivity to its local network but is unable to route to remote networks. The root cause is that the switch's SVI for VLAN 10 (192.168.1.1/24) does not have a default route pointing to a next-hop router. Without a default route, the switch cannot forward packets destined for networks outside its directly connected subnets. The show ip interface output confirms the SVI is up and has an IP address, but no default route is configured. Adding a default route (e.g., ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.254) will allow the switch to forward traffic to the upstream router for the server's subnet. Option A is correct. Option B is incorrect because the client already has a valid IP from DHCP. Option C is incorrect because the port is in access mode and VLAN 10 is active. Option D is incorrect because the SVI is up and has an IP address; the issue is routing, not the SVI being down.
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 switch lacks a default route to forward traffic to the upstream router.
Why this is correct
The switch's SVI for VLAN 10 (192.168.1.1) does not have a default route, so it cannot forward packets to the server's subnet. Adding a default route like 'ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.254' resolves the issue.
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 client has an incorrect subnet mask, preventing communication with the server.
Why it's wrong here
The client can ping its own IP and default gateway, which suggests the subnet mask is correct for the local subnet. An incorrect subnet mask would typically cause the client to fail to ping the default gateway as well.
- ✗
The switch port is configured as trunk instead of access, causing VLAN mismatch.
- ✗
The switch SVI for VLAN 10 is down, preventing routing for the client.
Why it's wrong here
The show ip interface output clearly shows the SVI is up/up with an IP address of 192.168.1.1/24. The SVI is operational.
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 switch lacks a default route to forward traffic to the upstream router.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The switch's SVI for VLAN 10 (192.168.1.1) does not have a default route, so it cannot forward packets to the server's subnet. Adding a default route like 'ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.254' resolves the issue.
✗The client has an incorrect subnet mask, preventing communication with the server.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The client can successfully ping the default gateway, indicating that its IP configuration (including subnet mask) is valid for the local network.
✗The switch port is configured as trunk instead of access, causing VLAN mismatch.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The port is clearly configured as an access port in VLAN 10, and the client is able to communicate within the local subnet, so VLAN mismatch is not the issue.
✗The switch SVI for VLAN 10 is down, preventing routing for the client.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The SVI is up and has an IP address; the problem is the lack of a default route, not the SVI being down.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The show interfaces status output shows the port is in 'connected' state with VLAN 10, and the running config shows 'switchport mode access'. There is no indication of a trunk configuration or VLAN mismatch.
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 switch lacks a default route to forward traffic to the upstream router. — The client can ping its own IP and default gateway, but cannot reach a server on a different subnet. This indicates that the client has connectivity to its local network but is unable to route to remote networks. The root cause is that the switch's SVI for VLAN 10 (192.168.1.1/24) does not have a default route pointing to a next-hop router. Without a default route, the switch cannot forward packets destined for networks outside its directly connected subnets. The show ip interface output confirms the SVI is up and has an IP address, but no default route is configured. Adding a default route (e.g., ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.254) will allow the switch to forward traffic to the upstream router for the server's subnet. Option A is correct. Option B is incorrect because the client already has a valid IP from DHCP. Option C is incorrect because the port is in access mode and VLAN 10 is active. Option D is incorrect because the SVI is up and has an IP address; the issue is routing, not the SVI being down.
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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