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Question 193 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 user's wired workstation that cannot access the internet. The user reports that the workstation was working earlier today. The administrator runs 'ipconfig /all' on the workstation and sees an IP address of 169.254.10.55. 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 workstation is unable to communicate with a DHCP server due to a faulty network cable.
The IP address 169.254.x.x is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, which Windows assigns when a DHCP server is unavailable or the DHCP request fails. This indicates the workstation cannot reach a DHCP server, often due to a physical connectivity issue, a misconfigured VLAN, or a DHCP server problem. The most common cause is a faulty cable or port, preventing the workstation from obtaining a valid IP address.
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 has a duplicate IP address conflict with another device.
Why it's wrong here
A duplicate IP address conflict would generate an error message and the workstation would still attempt to use the conflicting IP, not fall back to APIPA.
- ✓
The workstation is unable to communicate with a DHCP server due to a faulty network cable.
Why this is correct
A faulty network cable prevents the workstation from reaching the DHCP server, causing the client to self-assign an APIPA address (169.254.x.x).
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 workstation's DNS server settings are misconfigured.
- ✗
The workstation is connected to the wrong VLAN, causing it to receive an incorrect IP address.
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 workstation is unable to communicate with a DHCP server due to a faulty network cable.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
A faulty network cable prevents the workstation from reaching the DHCP server, causing the client to self-assign an APIPA address (169.254.x.x).
✗The workstation has a duplicate IP address conflict with another device.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Duplicate IP addresses typically cause intermittent connectivity and an error message, not an automatic assignment of a 169.254.x.x address.
✗The workstation's DNS server settings are misconfigured.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DNS issues do not prevent DHCP from assigning an IP; they only affect the ability to resolve domain names.
✗The workstation is connected to the wrong VLAN, causing it to receive an incorrect IP address.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A wrong VLAN usually leads to obtaining a valid IP from a different subnet, not a self-assigned 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?”
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.
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 workstation is unable to communicate with a DHCP server due to a faulty network cable. — The IP address 169.254.x.x is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, which Windows assigns when a DHCP server is unavailable or the DHCP request fails. This indicates the workstation cannot reach a DHCP server, often due to a physical connectivity issue, a misconfigured VLAN, or a DHCP server problem. The most common cause is a faulty cable or port, preventing the workstation from obtaining a valid IP address.
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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