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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.

Exhibit

C:\Users\User1> ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : example.local
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Ethernet Connection I219-V
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.105(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   Primary WINS Server . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

C:\Users\User1> ping 192.168.1.1

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=255
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=255
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=255
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=255

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

C:\Users\User1> ping 8.8.8.8

Pinging 8.8.8.8 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 8.8.8.8:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Users\User1> tracert 8.8.8.8

Tracing route to 8.8.8.8 over a maximum of 30 hops

  1    <1 ms    <1 ms    <1 ms  192.168.1.1
  2     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  3     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  4  ^C

A network administrator is troubleshooting a connectivity issue. A user reports that they cannot reach the internet, but they can reach other devices on the same local subnet. The administrator runs several commands on the user's Windows PC. Based on the output below, what is the most likely cause of the problem?

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 default gateway router is missing a default route to the internet.

The user can reach the default gateway (192.168.1.1) but cannot reach the internet (8.8.8.8). The tracert output shows the first hop succeeds (to the default gateway), but then times out on subsequent hops. This indicates that the user's PC is correctly configured with an IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway from the DHCP server, and the gateway is reachable. However, the gateway is not forwarding traffic to the internet, which is most likely because the gateway (router) does not have a default route pointing to an upstream ISP. Without a default route, the router can only forward traffic to directly connected networks, not to the internet.

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 user's PC has a duplicate IP address on the network.

    Why it's wrong here

    A duplicate IP address would typically cause intermittent connectivity or error messages, but the user can consistently reach the default gateway without issues. The ipconfig output shows the IP is preferred, and there is no indication of a conflict.

  • ✓

    The default gateway router is missing a default route to the internet.

    Why this is correct

    The user can ping the default gateway, but cannot reach any external IP (8.8.8.8). The tracert shows the first hop succeeds, but subsequent hops time out, which indicates the router is not forwarding traffic beyond the local network. This is classic symptom of a missing default route on the gateway.

    Clue confirmation

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

    Related concept

    CIDR notation defines the prefix length.

  • ✗

    The user's PC has an incorrect subnet mask.

    Why it's wrong here

    If the subnet mask were incorrect, the PC would have difficulty communicating with the default gateway or other hosts on the same subnet. The ping to 192.168.1.1 succeeds, so the subnet mask is correct (255.255.255.0).

  • ✗

    The user's PC has an incorrect DNS server configuration.

    Why it's wrong here

    While DNS could affect name resolution, the user is pinging an IP address (8.8.8.8), not a hostname. The failure to ping 8.8.8.8 indicates a routing issue, not a DNS issue. DNS would only prevent hostname resolution, not IP connectivity.

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 default gateway router is missing a default route to the internet.Correct answer▾

Why this is correct

The user can ping the default gateway, but cannot reach any external IP (8.8.8.8). The tracert shows the first hop succeeds, but subsequent hops time out, which indicates the router is not forwarding traffic beyond the local network. This is classic symptom of a missing default route on the gateway.

✗The user's PC has a duplicate IP address on the network.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

No symptoms of duplicate IP (e.g., APIPA address or conflict messages) are present.

✗The user's PC has an incorrect subnet mask.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

The user can reach the default gateway, indicating the subnet mask is correctly matching the local network.

✗The user's PC has an incorrect DNS server configuration.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

The problem is with IP connectivity to an external IP, not with name resolution.

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

    A duplicate IP address would typically cause intermittent connectivity or error messages, but the user can consistently reach the default gateway without issues. The ipconfig output shows the IP is preferred, and there is no indication of a conflict.

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.

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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 default gateway router is missing a default route to the internet. — The user can reach the default gateway (192.168.1.1) but cannot reach the internet (8.8.8.8). The tracert output shows the first hop succeeds (to the default gateway), but then times out on subsequent hops. This indicates that the user's PC is correctly configured with an IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway from the DHCP server, and the gateway is reachable. However, the gateway is not forwarding traffic to the internet, which is most likely because the gateway (router) does not have a default route pointing to an upstream ISP. Without a default route, the router can only forward traffic to directly connected networks, not to the internet.

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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