Question 1hardmultiple choice
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Question 985 of 1,052
hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
CCNA Practice Question: A network technician is troubleshooting a client…
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
SW1#show running-config interface GigabitEthernet0/1 Building configuration... Current configuration : 123 bytes ! interface GigabitEthernet0/1 description Client PC switchport access vlan 20 switchport mode access spanning-tree portfast end SW1#show vlan brief VLAN Name Status Ports ---- -------------------------------- --------- ------------------------------- 1 default active Gi0/2, Gi0/3 10 Users active Gi0/4 20 Guests active Gi0/1 100 Management active Gi0/24 SW1#show ip interface GigabitEthernet0/1 GigabitEthernet0/1 is up, line protocol is up Internet address is 192.168.10.1/24 Broadcast address is 255.255.255.255 Address determined by non-volatile memory MTU is 1500 bytes Helper address is not set 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 Null 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 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
A network technician is troubleshooting a client PC that cannot connect to the internet. The PC is in VLAN 10 with gateway 192.168.10.1. The technician runs 'ping 192.168.10.1' and gets no reply. The switch port connecting the PC is configured as an access port in VLAN 20. Which command output from the switch would most likely confirm the root cause?
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.
Clue:
"which command"Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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 port is configured in the wrong VLAN.
The PC is in VLAN 10 with gateway 192.168.10.1, but the switch port Gi0/1 is configured as an access port in VLAN 20. The 'show vlan brief' output confirms VLAN 20 is assigned to Gi0/1, while the PC expects VLAN 10. This mismatch prevents the PC from communicating with the gateway, causing the ping failure.
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 PC has a duplicate IP address conflict.
Why it's wrong here
There is no indication of duplicate IP in the output; the issue is VLAN mismatch.
- ✓
The switch port is configured in the wrong VLAN.
- ✗
The gateway IP address is misconfigured on the switch.
Why it's wrong here
The switch interface Gi0/1 has IP 192.168.10.1/24, which is correct for VLAN 10, but the port is in VLAN 20.
- ✗
The switch port is administratively down.
Why it's wrong here
The 'show ip interface' output shows 'up, line protocol is up', so the port 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 port is configured in the wrong VLAN.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The port Gi0/1 is in VLAN 20, but the PC belongs to VLAN 10, causing the connectivity issue.
✗The PC has a duplicate IP address conflict.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The exhibit shows no duplicate address detection messages; the PC's IP is not shown in conflict.
✗The gateway IP address is misconfigured on the switch.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The gateway IP is correctly assigned, but the VLAN mismatch overrides it.
✗The switch port is administratively down.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The port status is up, not 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
There is no indication of duplicate IP in the output; the issue is 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 port is configured in the wrong VLAN. — The PC is in VLAN 10 with gateway 192.168.10.1, but the switch port Gi0/1 is configured as an access port in VLAN 20. The 'show vlan brief' output confirms VLAN 20 is assigned to Gi0/1, while the PC expects VLAN 10. This mismatch prevents the PC from communicating with the gateway, causing the ping failure.
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", "which command". 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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