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hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped

CCNA Practice Question: Is troubleshooting a client device that reports…

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

AP1#show ap config general AP1

AP Name : AP1
Country Code : US - United States
Regulatory Domain : 802.11bg:-A 802.11a:-A

Radio Configuration:
  802.11b/g Radio: Enabled, Channel 6 (20 MHz), Power 17 dBm
  802.11a Radio: Enabled, Channel 36 (20 MHz), Power 17 dBm

AP2#show ap config general AP2

AP Name : AP2
Country Code : US - United States
Regulatory Domain : 802.11bg:-A 802.11a:-A

Radio Configuration:
  802.11b/g Radio: Enabled, Channel 1 (20 MHz), Power 17 dBm
  802.11a Radio: Enabled, Channel 149 (20 MHz), Power 17 dBm

WLC#show client detail <client-mac>

Client MAC Address : aabb.ccdd.eeff
Client State : Associated
AP Name : AP2
WLAN Profile : Corp-WLAN
SSID : Corp-5GHz
Authentication : WPA3-Enterprise
Roam Count : 12
Roam Failure Reason : Client disassociated from AP1 due to excessive missing ACKs

WLC#show ap config 802.11a summary

AP Name                Channel  Power (dBm)  Channel Width
---------------------------------------------------------
AP1                    36       17           80 MHz
AP2                    149      17           80 MHz

A network engineer is troubleshooting a client device that reports intermittent connectivity when roaming between two Cisco 9130AXI access points (APs) in a WLC-deployed wireless network. The client supports 802.11ax and WPA3-Enterprise, but it frequently disconnects and re-associates when moving from AP1 to AP2. The engineer examines the WLC configuration and the client's association history. Based on the exhibit, what is the most likely cause of the roaming 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 APs are operating on different channels (36 and 149) with an 80 MHz channel width, causing the client to lose connectivity during the channel change.

The client is roaming between AP1 and AP2, but the APs are configured with different channels (36 and 149) and an 80 MHz channel width. While 802.11ax supports 160 MHz channels, the client may not support the same channel width on both APs, or the channel change itself can cause a brief disassociation. However, the key clue is the 'Roam Failure Reason: Client disassociated from AP1 due to excessive missing ACKs'. This indicates that the client is losing connectivity during the roam because the APs are on non-overlapping channels (36 and 149 are in different UNII bands), and the client may be attempting to associate with AP2 before fully disassociating from AP1, leading to ACK timeouts. The correct fix is to ensure both APs are on the same channel or use a channel plan that minimizes channel changes during roaming. Option B correctly identifies the channel mismatch as the primary cause.

Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.

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 WLAN profile 'Corp-WLAN' is configured with WPA3-Enterprise, but the client does not support 802.1X authentication.

    Why it's wrong here

    The client is associated and authenticated successfully (WPA3-Enterprise), so authentication is not the issue.

  • The APs are operating on different channels (36 and 149) with an 80 MHz channel width, causing the client to lose connectivity during the channel change.

    Why this is correct

    When an 802.11ax client roams between APs on different channels, it must perform a channel switch. If the APs are on non-overlapping channels (36 and 149 are in different UNII bands), the client may disassociate due to missed ACKs during the transition, as shown in the roam failure reason.

    Clue confirmation

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

    Related concept

    CIDR notation defines the prefix length.

  • The APs have different power levels (17 dBm on both), but the client is too far from AP2.

    Why it's wrong here

    Both APs show the same power level, so there is no power imbalance. The client is associated to AP2, so distance is not indicated as a problem.

  • The WLC is configured with a single SSID 'Corp-5GHz' on both APs, but the SSID is not broadcast on the 2.4 GHz band, causing the client to lose connectivity.

    Why it's wrong here

    The client is associated on the 5 GHz band, and the SSID is present. The 2.4 GHz band is irrelevant to this roam issue.

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 APs are operating on different channels (36 and 149) with an 80 MHz channel width, causing the client to lose connectivity during the channel change.Correct answer

Why this is correct

When an 802.11ax client roams between APs on different channels, it must perform a channel switch. If the APs are on non-overlapping channels (36 and 149 are in different UNII bands), the client may disassociate due to missed ACKs during the transition, as shown in the roam failure reason.

The WLAN profile 'Corp-WLAN' is configured with WPA3-Enterprise, but the client does not support 802.1X authentication.Wrong answer — click to see why

Why this is wrong here

The client is already associated and has authenticated, so the problem is not with WPA3-Enterprise support.

The APs have different power levels (17 dBm on both), but the client is too far from AP2.Wrong answer — click to see why

Why this is wrong here

The power levels are identical, and the client is successfully associated to AP2, so signal strength is not the issue.

The WLC is configured with a single SSID 'Corp-5GHz' on both APs, but the SSID is not broadcast on the 2.4 GHz band, causing the client to lose connectivity.Wrong answer — click to see why

Why this is wrong here

The client is already connected to the SSID on 5 GHz, so the lack of 2.4 GHz SSID does not affect the 5 GHz roam.

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: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses

Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.

Trap categories for this question

  • Command / output trap

    Both APs show the same power level, so there is no power imbalance. The client is associated to AP2, so distance is not indicated as a problem.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
  • Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
  • Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
  • The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.

TExam Day Tips

  • Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
  • Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
  • Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.

Key takeaway

Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related 200-301 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.

Related practice questions

Related 200-301 practice-question pages

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 200-301 question test?

CIDR notation defines the prefix length.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The APs are operating on different channels (36 and 149) with an 80 MHz channel width, causing the client to lose connectivity during the channel change. — The client is roaming between AP1 and AP2, but the APs are configured with different channels (36 and 149) and an 80 MHz channel width. While 802.11ax supports 160 MHz channels, the client may not support the same channel width on both APs, or the channel change itself can cause a brief disassociation. However, the key clue is the 'Roam Failure Reason: Client disassociated from AP1 due to excessive missing ACKs'. This indicates that the client is losing connectivity during the roam because the APs are on non-overlapping channels (36 and 149 are in different UNII bands), and the client may be attempting to associate with AP2 before fully disassociating from AP1, leading to ACK timeouts. The correct fix is to ensure both APs are on the same channel or use a channel plan that minimizes channel changes during roaming. Option B correctly identifies the channel mismatch as the primary cause.

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

Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related 200-301 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.

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?

CIDR notation defines the prefix length.

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