Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →- → Why each wrong option is wrong in this specific scenario
- → When each wrong option would be correct
- → Real-world analogy and exam trap analysis
- → Related glossary terms and similar practice questions
Question 287 of 1,052
hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
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
Switch# show interfaces GigabitEthernet0/1 status
Port Name Status Vlan Duplex Speed Type
Gi0/1 notconnect 1 auto auto 10/100/1000BaseTX
Switch# show running-config interface GigabitEthernet0/1
Building configuration...
Current configuration : 110 bytes
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/1
description IoT_Sensor
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 10
spanning-tree portfast
end
Switch# show interfaces GigabitEthernet0/1
GigabitEthernet0/1 is up, line protocol is up (connected)
Hardware is Gigabit Ethernet, address is aabb.cc00.0101 (bia aabb.cc00.0101)
MTU 1500 bytes, BW 1000000 Kbit/sec, DLY 10 usec,
reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 1/255
Encapsulation ARPA, loopback not set
Keepalive set (10 sec)
Auto-duplex, Auto-speed, media type is 10/100/1000BaseTX
input flow-control is off, output flow-control is unsupported
ARP type: ARPA, ARP Timeout 04:00:00
Last input never, output never, output hang never
Last clearing of "show interface" counters never
Input queue: 0/75/0/0 (size/max/drops/flushes); Total output drops: 0
Queueing strategy: fifo
Output queue: 0/40 (size/max)
5 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
5 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
0 packets input, 0 bytes, 0 no buffer
Received 0 broadcasts (0 IP multicasts)
0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored
0 watchdog, 0 multicast, 0 pause input
0 input packets with dribble condition detected
0 packets output, 0 bytes, 0 underruns
0 output errors, 0 collisions, 1 interface resets
0 unknown protocol drops
0 babbles, 0 late collision, 0 deferred
0 lost carrier, 0 no carrier, 0 pause output
0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped outA network administrator is troubleshooting a connectivity issue for a newly deployed IoT sensor connected to an access port on a Cisco switch. The IoT device is statically assigned IP address 192.168.10.50/24, but it cannot ping its default gateway at 192.168.10.1. The switch port is up/up. Based on the following output from the switch, 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.
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
✓
Power on the IoT device and verify the cable connection between the switch and the sensor.
The root cause is that the IoT sensor is connected to a port configured with switchport access vlan 10, but the sensor's IP address (192.168.10.50/24) belongs to VLAN 10, which is correct. However, the show interfaces status output shows the port as 'notconnect', meaning the switch does not detect the cable as physically connected. Yet the show interfaces Gi0/1 output states the interface is up/up, indicating a possible mismatch between the switch's detection and the actual link state. The most likely issue is that the IoT device is powered off or the cable is faulty, causing the port to be administratively up but not physically connected. The correct action is to power on the IoT device and verify the cable connection. Option B is correct because it directly addresses the physical layer issue. Option A is incorrect because DHCP is not needed for a static IP. Option C is incorrect because the port is not in errdisable state. Option D is incorrect because the VLAN configuration matches the device's subnet.
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 port as a trunk port to carry multiple VLANs.
Why it's wrong here
Trunk ports are used to carry multiple VLANs between switches, not for connecting end devices like IoT sensors. This would not resolve the connectivity issue.
- ✓
Power on the IoT device and verify the cable connection between the switch and the sensor.
Why this is correct
The show interfaces status indicates 'notconnect', meaning the switch does not detect a physical link. This is often due to the device being powered off or a faulty cable. Ensuring the device is powered on and the cable is properly connected will restore connectivity.
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.
- ✗
Disable errdisable recovery and manually re-enable the port.
Why it's wrong here
The port is not in errdisable state; it is showing 'notconnect'. Errdisable is a different condition caused by port security violations or other errors. This action would not address the lack of physical link.
- ✗
Change the switchport access vlan to VLAN 1 to match the default VLAN.
Why it's wrong here
The IoT device is configured with an IP address in VLAN 10 (192.168.10.0/24), so it must be placed in VLAN 10 to communicate. Changing to VLAN 1 would place it in a different subnet, preventing communication with the default gateway.
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.
✓Power on the IoT device and verify the cable connection between the switch and the sensor.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The show interfaces status indicates 'notconnect', meaning the switch does not detect a physical link. This is often due to the device being powered off or a faulty cable. Ensuring the device is powered on and the cable is properly connected will restore connectivity.
✗Configure the port as a trunk port to carry multiple VLANs.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The IoT device only needs access to a single VLAN, and the port is already configured as an access port. Changing to trunk would not fix the physical layer problem.
✗Disable errdisable recovery and manually re-enable the port.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
There is no evidence of errdisable in the output. The port is up/up but not connected, so errdisable recovery is irrelevant.
✗Change the switchport access vlan to VLAN 1 to match the default VLAN.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The VLAN assignment is correct for the device's IP subnet. Changing it would cause an IP subnet mismatch, not resolve the physical connectivity issue.
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 port is not in errdisable state; it is showing 'notconnect'. Errdisable is a different condition caused by port security violations or other errors. This action would not address the lack of physical link.
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
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
CCNA subnetting practice questions
Practise IPv4 subnetting, CIDR, masks, host ranges and subnet selection.
CCNA OSPF practice questions
Practise OSPF neighbours, router IDs, metrics, areas and routing-table interpretation.
CCNA VLAN practice questions
Practise VLANs, access ports, trunks, allowed VLANs and switching scenarios.
CCNA STP practice questions
Practise spanning tree, root bridge election, port roles and STP troubleshooting.
CCNA EtherChannel practice questions
Practise LACP, PAgP, port-channel behaviour and bundle requirements.
CCNA ACL practice questions
Practise standard and extended ACLs, permit/deny logic and traffic filtering.
CCNA NAT practice questions
Practise static NAT, dynamic NAT, PAT and inside/outside address translation.
CCNA DHCP practice questions
Practise DHCP scopes, relay, leases and troubleshooting.
CCNA show ip route practice questions
Practise routing-table output, longest-prefix match, AD and route selection.
CCNA show interfaces trunk practice questions
Practise trunk verification and VLAN forwarding across switches.
CCNA wireless security practice questions
Practise WLAN security, authentication and wireless architecture concepts.
CCNA IPv6 practice questions
Practise IPv6 addressing, routes, neighbour discovery and common IPv6 exam traps.
Practice this exam
Start a free 200-301 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Power on the IoT device and verify the cable connection between the switch and the sensor. — The root cause is that the IoT sensor is connected to a port configured with switchport access vlan 10, but the sensor's IP address (192.168.10.50/24) belongs to VLAN 10, which is correct. However, the show interfaces status output shows the port as 'notconnect', meaning the switch does not detect the cable as physically connected. Yet the show interfaces Gi0/1 output states the interface is up/up, indicating a possible mismatch between the switch's detection and the actual link state. The most likely issue is that the IoT device is powered off or the cable is faulty, causing the port to be administratively up but not physically connected. The correct action is to power on the IoT device and verify the cable connection. Option B is correct because it directly addresses the physical layer issue. Option A is incorrect because DHCP is not needed for a static IP. Option C is incorrect because the port is not in errdisable state. Option D is incorrect because the VLAN configuration matches the device's subnet.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More 200-301 practice questions
- A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that w…
- A switch has DHCP snooping enabled, but users still experience IP-to-MAC spoofing attacks. Which additional feature shou…
- Switch SW1 sends traffic for VLAN 30 across a trunk to SW2, but hosts in VLAN 30 on SW2 cannot communicate with hosts in…
- What problem is HSRP designed to solve?
- Which DHCP message does the client send to formally accept an offered address?
- What metric does RIP use to choose the best path?
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Loading comments…
Sign in to join the discussion.
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.