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CCNA Practice Question: A network administrator has configured a Cisco…

This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of 200-301 exam topics. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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

Switch# show ip dhcp pool VLAN10
Pool VLAN10 :
  Utilization mark (high/low)    : 100 / 0
  Subnet size (first/next)        : 192.168.1.0 / 24
  Total addresses                 : 254
  Leased addresses                : 0
  Pending event                   : none
  Automatic bindings              :
  Lease time                      : 1 day
  Next network numbers            :
    192.168.1.0

Switch# show ip dhcp server statistics
Memory usage          : 26740
Address pools         : 1
Database agents       : 0
Automatic bindings    : 0
Manual bindings       : 0
Expired bindings      : 0
Malformed messages    : 0
Message Received:
  BOOTREQUEST         : 0
  DHCPDISCOVER        : 0
  DHCPREQUEST         : 0
  DHCPDECLINE         : 0
  DHCPRELEASE         : 0
  DHCPINFORM          : 0

Switch# show ip dhcp conflict
IP address      Detection method   Detection time
192.168.1.1     Ping               Jan 1 00:00:00.000
192.168.1.254   Ping               Jan 1 00:00:00.000

A network administrator has configured a Cisco switch as a DHCP server for the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet. Hosts in VLAN 10 are unable to obtain IP addresses via DHCP. The switch's SVI for VLAN 10 is up/up. 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 DHCP server is including the network and broadcast addresses in the pool, causing conflicts. Use the 'ip dhcp excluded-address' command to exclude them.

The DHCP pool is correctly configured, but the switch is not receiving any DHCP discover messages (0 received). The 'show ip dhcp conflict' output shows that addresses 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.1.254 are in conflict due to ping detection. These are the network and broadcast addresses of the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet. The DHCP server automatically excludes addresses that respond to pings, and these two addresses are the first and last in the range. Since these are the only addresses that were pinged, it indicates that the DHCP server is incorrectly including the network and broadcast addresses in the pool. The correct fix is to exclude these addresses using the 'ip dhcp excluded-address' command.

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 VLAN 10 SVI is not configured with an IP address in the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet.

    Why it's wrong here

    The SVI is up/up, but its IP address is not shown; however, DHCP server operation does not require the SVI to be in the same subnet as the pool.

  • ✓

    The DHCP server is including the network and broadcast addresses in the pool, causing conflicts. Use the 'ip dhcp excluded-address' command to exclude them.

    Why this is correct

    The conflict detection shows that addresses 192.168.1.1 (network) and 192.168.1.254 (broadcast) are in conflict. These should be excluded to prevent the DHCP server from leasing them.

    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.

  • ✗

    DHCP snooping is blocking DHCP messages on the switch port connected to the hosts.

    Why it's wrong here

    DHCP snooping is not shown in the exhibit; the statistics show 0 DHCP messages received, which suggests the server is not receiving them at all.

  • ✗

    The DHCP pool is not bound to VLAN 10. Use the 'vlan' command under the pool configuration.

    Why it's wrong here

    DHCP pools are not bound to VLANs in Cisco IOS; they are associated with subnets. The pool is correctly configured for the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet.

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 DHCP server is including the network and broadcast addresses in the pool, causing conflicts. Use the 'ip dhcp excluded-address' command to exclude them.Correct answer▾

Why this is correct

The conflict detection shows that addresses 192.168.1.1 (network) and 192.168.1.254 (broadcast) are in conflict. These should be excluded to prevent the DHCP server from leasing them.

✗The VLAN 10 SVI is not configured with an IP address in the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

The SVI must have an IP address for routing, but the DHCP server can serve addresses from any pool regardless of the SVI's subnet. The issue is with the pool itself.

✗DHCP snooping is blocking DHCP messages on the switch port connected to the hosts.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

If DHCP snooping were blocking messages, the 'Malformed messages' counter might increase, but the server would still receive some messages. The zero count indicates no messages are reaching the server.

✗The DHCP pool is not bound to VLAN 10. Use the 'vlan' command under the pool configuration.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

There is no 'vlan' command under a DHCP pool. The pool serves all hosts in the subnet regardless of VLAN association.

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

    The SVI is up/up, but its IP address is not shown; however, DHCP server operation does not require the SVI to be in the same subnet as the pool.

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 DHCP server is including the network and broadcast addresses in the pool, causing conflicts. Use the 'ip dhcp excluded-address' command to exclude them. — The DHCP pool is correctly configured, but the switch is not receiving any DHCP discover messages (0 received). The 'show ip dhcp conflict' output shows that addresses 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.1.254 are in conflict due to ping detection. These are the network and broadcast addresses of the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet. The DHCP server automatically excludes addresses that respond to pings, and these two addresses are the first and last in the range. Since these are the only addresses that were pinged, it indicates that the DHCP server is incorrectly including the network and broadcast addresses in the pool. The correct fix is to exclude these addresses using the 'ip dhcp excluded-address' command.

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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