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
--- Client PC (ipconfig /all) ---
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : example.local
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 169.254.10.25
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.1
--- R1 (show ip interface brief) ---
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
GigabitEthernet0/0/0 192.168.10.1 YES NVRAM up up
GigabitEthernet0/0/1 203.0.113.2 YES NVRAM up up
--- R1 (show running-config | section interface) ---
interface GigabitEthernet0/0/0
description LAN
ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0
no shutdown
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/0/1
description WAN
ip address 203.0.113.2 255.255.255.252
no shutdown
!
--- R1 (show ip route) ---
Codes: C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route
Gateway of last resort is not set
C 192.168.10.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0/0
C 203.0.113.0/30 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0/1
You are troubleshooting a wired client connectivity issue. A user on VLAN 10 (subnet 192.168.10.0/24) reports that they cannot reach the internet. The client PC is connected to switch SW1, which is connected to router R1. You have console access to the client PC and R1. Identify and fix the misconfiguration so that the client can ping the internet host 203.0.113.1.
--- Client PC (ipconfig /all) ---
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : example.local
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 169.254.10.25
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.1
--- R1 (show ip interface brief) ---
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
GigabitEthernet0/0/0 192.168.10.1 YES NVRAM up up
GigabitEthernet0/0/1 203.0.113.2 YES NVRAM up up
--- R1 (show running-config | section interface) ---
interface GigabitEthernet0/0/0
description LAN
ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0
no shutdown
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/0/1
description WAN
ip address 203.0.113.2 255.255.255.252
no shutdown
!
--- R1 (show ip route) ---
Codes: C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route
Gateway of last resort is not set
C 192.168.10.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0/0
C 203.0.113.0/30 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0/1
A
Configure R1 as a DHCP server for VLAN 10, excluding the router's IP, and add a default route to 203.0.113.1.
The client has an APIPA address, indicating DHCP failure. R1 must be configured as a DHCP server to provide an IP address, default gateway, and DNS. Additionally, a default route is needed for internet access.
B
Change the client's IP address to a static IP in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet and set the default gateway to 203.0.113.1.
Why wrong: The default gateway should be the router's interface IP on VLAN 10, not the internet host. Setting it to 203.0.113.1 would cause the client to send traffic directly to the internet, which is unreachable.
C
Enable DHCP snooping on SW1 and configure the client port as trusted.
Why wrong: DHCP snooping is a security feature to prevent rogue DHCP servers. It does not help if no DHCP server is configured. The client still won't get an IP address.
D
Configure a static route on the client PC to 203.0.113.1 via the router's IP.
Why wrong: The client does not have a valid IP address (APIPA), so it cannot communicate with the router. Adding a static route on the client is unnecessary and does not solve the lack of IP configuration.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure R1 as a DHCP server for VLAN 10, excluding the router's IP, and add a default route to 203.0.113.1.
The client PC has an APIPA address (169.254.x.x) because it failed to obtain an IP via DHCP. The DHCP server is likely the router R1, but the router is not configured as a DHCP server. To fix this, configure R1 as a DHCP server for VLAN 10, excluding the router's own IP from the pool, and set the default gateway and DNS. Then the client can renew its IP and reach the internet. Additionally, the router lacks a default route to the internet; add a static default route pointing to the next-hop (203.0.113.1).
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 R1 as a DHCP server for VLAN 10, excluding the router's IP, and add a default route to 203.0.113.1.
Why this is correct
The client has an APIPA address, indicating DHCP failure. R1 must be configured as a DHCP server to provide an IP address, default gateway, and DNS. Additionally, a default route is needed for internet access.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
✗
Change the client's IP address to a static IP in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet and set the default gateway to 203.0.113.1.
Why it's wrong here
The default gateway should be the router's interface IP on VLAN 10, not the internet host. Setting it to 203.0.113.1 would cause the client to send traffic directly to the internet, which is unreachable.
✗
Enable DHCP snooping on SW1 and configure the client port as trusted.
Why it's wrong here
DHCP snooping is a security feature to prevent rogue DHCP servers. It does not help if no DHCP server is configured. The client still won't get an IP address.
✗
Configure a static route on the client PC to 203.0.113.1 via the router's IP.
Why it's wrong here
The client does not have a valid IP address (APIPA), so it cannot communicate with the router. Adding a static route on the client is unnecessary and does not solve the lack of IP 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.
✓Configure R1 as a DHCP server for VLAN 10, excluding the router's IP, and add a default route to 203.0.113.1.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The client has an APIPA address, indicating DHCP failure. R1 must be configured as a DHCP server to provide an IP address, default gateway, and DNS. Additionally, a default route is needed for internet access.
✗Change the client's IP address to a static IP in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet and set the default gateway to 203.0.113.1.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The default gateway must be an IP on the same subnet as the client, typically the router's LAN interface.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the internet host IP with the default gateway, thinking the client should point directly to the destination.
✗Enable DHCP snooping on SW1 and configure the client port as trusted.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DHCP snooping does not provide DHCP services; it only filters DHCP messages.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think DHCP snooping is needed because the client is not getting an IP, but the root cause is the absence of a DHCP server.
✗Configure a static route on the client PC to 203.0.113.1 via the router's IP.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The client must first have a valid IP and default gateway; static routes on a host are rarely used and not the issue here.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think routing is the problem and try to add a route on the client, but the issue is at Layer 3 addressing.
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.
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 R1 as a DHCP server for VLAN 10, excluding the router's IP, and add a default route to 203.0.113.1. — The client PC has an APIPA address (169.254.x.x) because it failed to obtain an IP via DHCP. The DHCP server is likely the router R1, but the router is not configured as a DHCP server. To fix this, configure R1 as a DHCP server for VLAN 10, excluding the router's own IP from the pool, and set the default gateway and DNS. Then the client can renew its IP and reach the internet. Additionally, the router lacks a default route to the internet; add a static default route pointing to the next-hop (203.0.113.1).
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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