The answer is to configure the SSID with WPA3-Personal and verify the management interface is on VLAN 10 with the correct gateway. This resolves the core issue because a security mismatch occurs when the SSID is set to WPA2-PSK while clients expect WPA3, causing the 'wrong password' errors despite the SSID being visible; the intermittent web UI access stems from the management interface being misconfigured on the wrong VLAN or lacking a proper gateway. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of WLAN security evolution and management interface separation, often appearing as a troubleshooting simulation where you must distinguish between client-side compatibility and controller-side misconfiguration—a common trap is assuming all devices support WPA3 when older clients may simply fail to connect. Remember the memory tip: "WPA3 for the key, VLAN 10 for the GUI"—if clients see but can't join, check the security protocol; if the web UI drops, check the management VLAN gateway.
CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network infrastructure and connectivity. 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
=== WLC Configuration (Partial) ===
WLAN ID: 1
Profile Name: CorpSecure
SSID: CorpSecure
Status: Enabled
Security: WPA2-PSK (AES)
PSK Passphrase: Cisco123!
VLAN: 20
Interface: VLAN20
Broadcast SSID: Disabled
=== Interface Configuration ===
Management Interface:
IP Address: 192.168.1.10/24
VLAN: 10
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1
=== Show summary (from CLI) ===
(Cisco Controller) >show wlan summary
Number of WLANs.................................. 1
WLAN ID WLAN Profile Name / SSID Status Interface
------- ------------------------------------ ------- ---------
1 CorpSecure / CorpSecure Enabled VLAN20
(Cisco Controller) >show client summary
Number of Clients................................ 0
(Cisco Controller) >show interface detailed management
Interface Name................................... management
MAC Address...................................... 00:1a:2b:3c:4d:5e
IP Address....................................... 192.168.1.10
IP Netmask....................................... 255.255.255.0
Default Router................................... 192.168.1.1
VLAN............................................ 10
(Cisco Controller) >show interface detailed vlan20
Interface Name................................... vlan20
MAC Address...................................... 00:1a:2b:3c:4d:5f
IP Address....................................... 10.0.20.1
IP Netmask....................................... 255.255.255.0
Default Router................................... 10.0.20.254
VLAN............................................ 20
You are managing a Cisco WLC (192.168.1.10) via its web UI. The wireless network 'CorpSecure' has been configured but clients cannot associate. Some report 'wrong password' errors; others see the SSID but fail to connect. Additionally, management access to the WLC web UI is intermittent. Identify and resolve the issues so that wireless clients can successfully associate with 'CorpSecure' using WPA3-Personal and the WLC web UI is reliably accessible from the management VLAN (VLAN 10).
=== WLC Configuration (Partial) ===
WLAN ID: 1
Profile Name: CorpSecure
SSID: CorpSecure
Status: Enabled
Security: WPA2-PSK (AES)
PSK Passphrase: Cisco123!
VLAN: 20
Interface: VLAN20
Broadcast SSID: Disabled
=== Interface Configuration ===
Management Interface:
IP Address: 192.168.1.10/24
VLAN: 10
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1
=== Show summary (from CLI) ===
(Cisco Controller) >show wlan summary
Number of WLANs.................................. 1
WLAN ID WLAN Profile Name / SSID Status Interface
------- ------------------------------------ ------- ---------
1 CorpSecure / CorpSecure Enabled VLAN20
(Cisco Controller) >show client summary
Number of Clients................................ 0
(Cisco Controller) >show interface detailed management
Interface Name................................... management
MAC Address...................................... 00:1a:2b:3c:4d:5e
IP Address....................................... 192.168.1.10
IP Netmask....................................... 255.255.255.0
Default Router................................... 192.168.1.1
VLAN............................................ 10
(Cisco Controller) >show interface detailed vlan20
Interface Name................................... vlan20
MAC Address...................................... 00:1a:2b:3c:4d:5f
IP Address....................................... 10.0.20.1
IP Netmask....................................... 255.255.255.0
Default Router................................... 10.0.20.254
VLAN............................................ 20
A
Configure the SSID with WPA3-Personal; verify management interface is on VLAN 10 with correct gateway.
The root cause is the WPA2 vs WPA3 mismatch; the SSID is already visible, so broadcast is fine. Ensuring the management interface is on VLAN 10 resolves intermittent web UI access.
B
Change the SSID security to WPA2-PSK and disable SSID broadcast; reset the WLC to factory defaults.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because WPA2-PSK is not the required security (WPA3-Personal is needed), and disabling SSID broadcast would worsen client visibility. Resetting to factory defaults is unnecessary and would erase all configurations.
C
Update the WLC firmware to the latest version and change the management VLAN to VLAN 1.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because changing the management VLAN to VLAN 1 is not recommended and does not address the SSID security or broadcast issues. Firmware update may not resolve the specific configuration errors.
D
Reconfigure the SSID with WPA3-Enterprise and enable SSID broadcast; set the management interface to use DHCP.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because WPA3-Enterprise requires a RADIUS server, which is not mentioned; the scenario specifies WPA3-Personal. Using DHCP for the management interface could cause IP address changes, worsening intermittent access.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure the SSID with WPA3-Personal; verify management interface is on VLAN 10 with correct gateway.
The primary issue is a security mismatch: the SSID is set to WPA2-PSK while clients expect WPA3, causing 'wrong password' errors. Since clients can see the SSID, broadcast is already enabled; the secondary connection failures may be due to incompatible devices, but the correct fix is to change the security to WPA3-Personal (AES). Additionally, verify that the management interface is on VLAN 10 with the correct gateway to ensure reliable WLC web UI access.
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.
✓
Configure the SSID with WPA3-Personal; verify management interface is on VLAN 10 with correct gateway.
Why this is correct
The root cause is the WPA2 vs WPA3 mismatch; the SSID is already visible, so broadcast is fine. Ensuring the management interface is on VLAN 10 resolves intermittent web UI access.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
✗
Change the SSID security to WPA2-PSK and disable SSID broadcast; reset the WLC to factory defaults.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because WPA2-PSK is not the required security (WPA3-Personal is needed), and disabling SSID broadcast would worsen client visibility. Resetting to factory defaults is unnecessary and would erase all configurations.
✗
Update the WLC firmware to the latest version and change the management VLAN to VLAN 1.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because changing the management VLAN to VLAN 1 is not recommended and does not address the SSID security or broadcast issues. Firmware update may not resolve the specific configuration errors.
✗
Reconfigure the SSID with WPA3-Enterprise and enable SSID broadcast; set the management interface to use DHCP.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because WPA3-Enterprise requires a RADIUS server, which is not mentioned; the scenario specifies WPA3-Personal. Using DHCP for the management interface could cause IP address changes, worsening intermittent access.
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.
✓Configure the SSID with WPA3-Personal; verify management interface is on VLAN 10 with correct gateway.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The root cause is the WPA2 vs WPA3 mismatch; the SSID is already visible, so broadcast is fine. Ensuring the management interface is on VLAN 10 resolves intermittent web UI access.
✗Change the SSID security to WPA2-PSK and disable SSID broadcast; reset the WLC to factory defaults.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: WPA2-PSK is not compatible with clients expecting WPA3-Personal, and hiding the SSID prevents clients from seeing it.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think resetting the WLC is a quick fix, or they may confuse WPA2 and WPA3 requirements.
✗Update the WLC firmware to the latest version and change the management VLAN to VLAN 1.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: VLAN 1 is the default and often discouraged for management; the issue is not firmware-related but configuration-based.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume a firmware bug causes intermittent access, or they may think VLAN 1 is always correct for management.
✗Reconfigure the SSID with WPA3-Enterprise and enable SSID broadcast; set the management interface to use DHCP.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: WPA3-Enterprise is not appropriate without a RADIUS server, and DHCP for management can lead to unreliable access.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might confuse WPA3-Personal with WPA3-Enterprise, or think DHCP is more reliable than static IP for management.
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
Scenario analysis trap
This is incorrect because WPA3-Enterprise requires a RADIUS server, which is not mentioned; the scenario specifies WPA3-Personal. Using DHCP for the management interface could cause IP address changes, worsening intermittent access.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
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.
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — This question tests Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the SSID with WPA3-Personal; verify management interface is on VLAN 10 with correct gateway. — The primary issue is a security mismatch: the SSID is set to WPA2-PSK while clients expect WPA3, causing 'wrong password' errors. Since clients can see the SSID, broadcast is already enabled; the secondary connection failures may be due to incompatible devices, but the correct fix is to change the security to WPA3-Personal (AES). Additionally, verify that the management interface is on VLAN 10 with the correct gateway to ensure reliable WLC web UI access.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
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