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hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped

CCNA Practice Question: A network administrator notices that hosts in…

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

interface GigabitEthernet0/0
 no ip address
 duplex auto
 speed auto
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/0.10
 encapsulation dot1Q 10
 ip address 172.16.10.1 255.255.255.0
 ip access-group BLOCK_SERVER out
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/1
 ip address 10.10.10.1 255.255.255.0
!
ip access-list extended BLOCK_SERVER
 deny ip any host 10.10.10.10
 permit ip any any

A network administrator notices that hosts in VLAN 10 (172.16.10.0/24) can ping the router's GigabitEthernet0/0 interface (172.16.10.1) but cannot ping the server at 10.10.10.10. The router connects VLAN 10 via subinterface G0/0.10 and also has an interface G0/1 (10.10.10.0/24) connected to the server. The administrator checks the running configuration. 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

Remove the access-group from G0/0.10 and apply it inbound on G0/0.10.

The ACL BLOCK_SERVER is applied outbound on G0/0.10. Traffic from VLAN 10 to the server (10.10.10.10) exits G0/0.10 to reach the router, but the ACL is checked on traffic leaving the subinterface, not entering. The deny statement blocks traffic from any source to the server, but since the ACL is applied outbound, it filters traffic that is leaving G0/0.10, which is traffic destined to the server from VLAN 10. Thus, the ping from VLAN 10 to the server is denied. The correct fix is to move the ACL to the inbound direction on G0/0.10 or apply it inbound on G0/1. Options A and C would not solve the issue, and option D would block all traffic, not just to the 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.

  • Change the ACL to permit ip any host 10.10.10.10 and deny ip any any.

    Why it's wrong here

    This would permit only traffic to the server and deny all other traffic, which is not the intended behavior.

  • Remove the access-group from G0/0.10 and apply it inbound on G0/0.10.

    Why this is correct

    Applying the ACL inbound on G0/0.10 would filter traffic coming from VLAN 10 before it enters the router, allowing the ping to the server to be permitted by the second line (permit ip any any).

    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.

  • Add the keyword 'log' to the deny statement to see if the traffic is being matched.

    Why it's wrong here

    Logging would only help with troubleshooting but would not fix the connectivity issue.

  • Remove the permit ip any any line so that only the deny is applied.

    Why it's wrong here

    Removing the permit line would block all traffic from VLAN 10 to any destination, making the problem worse.

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.

Remove the access-group from G0/0.10 and apply it inbound on G0/0.10.Correct answer

Why this is correct

Applying the ACL inbound on G0/0.10 would filter traffic coming from VLAN 10 before it enters the router, allowing the ping to the server to be permitted by the second line (permit ip any any).

Change the ACL to permit ip any host 10.10.10.10 and deny ip any any.Wrong answer — click to see why

Why this is wrong here

The problem is the direction of the ACL, not the permit/deny order.

Add the keyword 'log' to the deny statement to see if the traffic is being matched.Wrong answer — click to see why

Why this is wrong here

It is a diagnostic tool, not a corrective action.

Remove the permit ip any any line so that only the deny is applied.Wrong answer — click to see why

Why this is wrong here

The deny statement alone would block everything, not just the server.

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.

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?

Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Remove the access-group from G0/0.10 and apply it inbound on G0/0.10. — The ACL BLOCK_SERVER is applied outbound on G0/0.10. Traffic from VLAN 10 to the server (10.10.10.10) exits G0/0.10 to reach the router, but the ACL is checked on traffic leaving the subinterface, not entering. The deny statement blocks traffic from any source to the server, but since the ACL is applied outbound, it filters traffic that is leaving G0/0.10, which is traffic destined to the server from VLAN 10. Thus, the ping from VLAN 10 to the server is denied. The correct fix is to move the ACL to the inbound direction on G0/0.10 or apply it inbound on G0/1. Options A and C would not solve the issue, and option D would block all traffic, not just to the 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.