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CCNA Practice Question: A user in the Sales VLAN reports intermittent…

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

C:\Users\SalesPC> ipconfig /all
Windows IP Configuration
   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : SalesPC-01
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . : 
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : 
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT Network Connection
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.45.12(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 
   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 

C:\Users\SalesPC> ping 192.168.20.1
Pinging 192.168.20.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 169.254.45.12: Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 169.254.45.12: Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 169.254.45.12: Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 169.254.45.12: Destination host unreachable.

Ping statistics for 192.168.20.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

A user in the Sales VLAN reports intermittent connectivity to the corporate file server at 192.168.10.100. The switch port Gi1/0/5 shows the interface up, but the PC cannot ping the default gateway (192.168.20.1). The network administrator runs a series of diagnostic commands on the PC. Based on the output, what is the most likely cause of the connectivity 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 port Gi1/0/5 is configured with the wrong VLAN.

The PC has an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address (169.254.45.12), indicating that DHCP failed. The user's PC is unable to obtain an IP address from the DHCP server, which is why it cannot ping the default gateway or reach the file server. The most common cause in a switched environment is that the switch port is configured with the wrong VLAN, preventing DHCP broadcasts from reaching the DHCP server.

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's network cable is faulty.

    Why it's wrong here

    A faulty cable would typically cause the interface to be down/down, but the exhibit shows the PC has an IP address and the interface is up.

  • ✓

    The switch port Gi1/0/5 is configured with the wrong VLAN.

    Why this is correct

    If the switch port is in a different VLAN than the DHCP server, DHCP discovery broadcasts will not reach the server, causing the PC to fall back to APIPA.

    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 default gateway IP address is misconfigured on the PC.

    Why it's wrong here

    The PC does not have a default gateway because it has no DHCP lease; the missing gateway is a consequence, not the root cause.

  • ✗

    The DHCP server is down or unreachable from the entire network.

    Why it's wrong here

    If the DHCP server were completely down, multiple users would likely be affected, but the symptom is isolated to one user. The issue is localized to the switch port configuration.

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 Gi1/0/5 is configured with the wrong VLAN.Correct answer▾

Why this is correct

If the switch port is in a different VLAN than the DHCP server, DHCP discovery broadcasts will not reach the server, causing the PC to fall back to APIPA.

✗The PC's network cable is faulty.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

The PC has an APIPA address, indicating layer 2 connectivity but no DHCP lease; a cable fault would not allow any IP configuration.

✗The default gateway IP address is misconfigured on the PC.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

The PC never received an IP address from DHCP, so the gateway field is empty; the problem is upstream.

✗The DHCP server is down or unreachable from the entire network.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

The exhibit does not indicate a widespread problem; the APIPA address suggests a local VLAN mismatch.

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

    A faulty cable would typically cause the interface to be down/down, but the exhibit shows the PC has an IP address and the interface is up.

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 Gi1/0/5 is configured with the wrong VLAN. — The PC has an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address (169.254.45.12), indicating that DHCP failed. The user's PC is unable to obtain an IP address from the DHCP server, which is why it cannot ping the default gateway or reach the file server. The most common cause in a switched environment is that the switch port is configured with the wrong VLAN, preventing DHCP broadcasts from reaching the DHCP server.

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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This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.