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hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped

CCNA Practice Question: Is troubleshooting a workstation that cannot…

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 vlan 10
Vlan10 is administratively down, line protocol is down
  Hardware is Ethernet SVI, address is 0011.2233.4455 (bia 0011.2233.4455)
  Internet address is 192.168.10.1/24
  MTU 1500 bytes, BW 1000000 Kbit, DLY 10 usec,
     reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 1/255
  Encapsulation ARPA, loopback not set
  Keepalive not supported
  ARP type: ARPA, ARP Timeout 04:00:00
  Last input never, output never, output hang never
  Last clearing of "show interface" counters never
  Input queue: 0/75/0/0 (size/max/drops/flushes); Total output drops: 0
  Queueing strategy: fifo
  Output queue: 0/40 (size/max)
  5 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
  5 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
    0 packets input, 0 bytes
    0 packets output, 0 bytes

A network engineer is troubleshooting a workstation that cannot access the internet. The workstation is connected to a switch port configured for access VLAN 10. The switch is a Cisco 2960-X running IOS-XE. The engineer runs 'ipconfig /all' on the workstation and sees an IPv4 address of 169.254.123.45 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. The engineer then connects to the switch and issues 'show interfaces vlan 10'. 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
Full question →

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's VLAN 10 SVI is administratively down.

The workstation has an APIPA address (169.254.x.x), which indicates it failed to obtain an IP from a DHCP server. The switch's SVI for VLAN 10 is administratively down, meaning the VLAN interface is not operational. Even if a DHCP server existed on another VLAN, the SVI being down prevents the workstation from reaching it. The symptom is caused by the SVI being manually shut down (administratively down), not by a DHCP server misconfiguration or physical port issue.

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 workstation is not configured to use DHCP.

    Why it's wrong here

    This is incorrect because an APIPA address is assigned automatically when DHCP fails, but the root cause is the SVI being down, not the workstation's DHCP client setting.

  • ✓

    The switch's VLAN 10 SVI is administratively down.

    Why this is correct

    The 'administratively down' state on the SVI indicates it was manually disabled with the 'shutdown' command. This prevents the switch from routing or providing DHCP services for that VLAN, causing the workstation to get an APIPA address.

    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 switch port connecting the workstation is in a different VLAN.

    Why it's wrong here

    This is plausible but not supported by the exhibit. The exhibit shows the SVI for VLAN 10, not the access port configuration. The workstation's APIPA address suggests a Layer 3 issue, not a VLAN mismatch (which would typically cause a different symptom like no link or incorrect subnet).

  • ✗

    The DHCP server is not configured on the network.

    Why it's wrong here

    This is incorrect because even if a DHCP server existed, the SVI being down would prevent the workstation from reaching it. The exhibit does not mention DHCP server configuration, and the symptom is specifically caused by the SVI state.

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's VLAN 10 SVI is administratively down.Correct answer▾

Why this is correct

The 'administratively down' state on the SVI indicates it was manually disabled with the 'shutdown' command. This prevents the switch from routing or providing DHCP services for that VLAN, causing the workstation to get an APIPA address.

✗The workstation is not configured to use DHCP.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

The workstation likely has DHCP enabled, but the switch's SVI being down prevents DHCP discovery from reaching a server.

✗The switch port connecting the workstation is in a different VLAN.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

A VLAN mismatch would likely result in a different IP address or no connectivity, but the SVI being down is a more direct cause.

✗The DHCP server is not configured on the network.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

The absence of a DHCP server is a possible cause, but the exhibit clearly shows the SVI is administratively down, which is a more specific and immediate issue.

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

    This is plausible but not supported by the exhibit. The exhibit shows the SVI for VLAN 10, not the access port configuration. The workstation's APIPA address suggests a Layer 3 issue, not a VLAN mismatch (which would typically cause a different symptom like no link or incorrect subnet).

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's VLAN 10 SVI is administratively down. — The workstation has an APIPA address (169.254.x.x), which indicates it failed to obtain an IP from a DHCP server. The switch's SVI for VLAN 10 is administratively down, meaning the VLAN interface is not operational. Even if a DHCP server existed on another VLAN, the SVI being down prevents the workstation from reaching it. The symptom is caused by the SVI being manually shut down (administratively down), not by a DHCP server misconfiguration or physical port issue.

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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