Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A host is configured with 172.16.10.62/27. Which address is the broadcast address for that subnet?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
172.16.10.31
This is wrong because .31 is the broadcast of the 0–31 block, not the block containing .62.
B
Distractor review
172.16.10.32
This is wrong because .32 is the network address of the 32–63 block.
C
Best answer
172.16.10.63
This is correct because the host is in the 32–63 /27 block, whose broadcast is .63.
D
Distractor review
172.16.10.64
This is wrong because .64 is the start of the next /27 block.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent mistake is assuming the broadcast address is simply the next highest number after the host IP or confusing it with the network address of the subnet. For instance, choosing 172.16.10.31 or 172.16.10.64 as the broadcast address ignores the fact that the host’s subnet block is 32–63. This error occurs because candidates often forget that subnet blocks are fixed by the subnet mask and that the broadcast address is always the last IP in the subnet range. Misunderstanding this leads to incorrect subnet identification and wrong broadcast address selection.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Subnetting is a fundamental concept in IP networking that allows a large network to be divided into smaller, manageable segments called subnets. Each subnet has a defined range of IP addresses determined by the subnet mask. In this question, the /27 subnet mask means 27 bits are used for the network portion, leaving 5 bits for host addresses. This creates subnets with 32 total IP addresses (2^5), including the network and broadcast addresses. To determine the broadcast address for a host configured with 172.16.10.62/27, you first identify the subnet block it belongs to. Since each /27 block contains 32 addresses, the blocks start at .0, .32, .64, and so on. The host IP .62 falls within the 32–63 range. The broadcast address is the last IP in this range, which is 172.16.10.63. This address is reserved for broadcasting packets to all hosts in the subnet. A common exam trap is confusing the broadcast address with the network address or simply guessing based on the host IP’s last octet. For example, .31 is the broadcast for the 0–31 block, not the block containing .62. Cisco devices rely on accurate subnetting to route traffic correctly and to handle broadcasts properly. Misidentifying the broadcast address can cause communication failures within the subnet and incorrect routing behavior.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller blocks by borrowing bits from the host portion to create subnets with specific address ranges.
- A /27 subnet mask corresponds to 255.255.255.224, which creates subnets with 32 IP addresses each, including network and broadcast addresses.
- The broadcast address for a subnet is always the highest IP address in that subnet’s range, used to send packets to all hosts within that subnet.
- To find the broadcast address, identify the subnet block containing the host IP and select the last IP address in that block.
- The network address is the first IP address in the subnet block and cannot be assigned to hosts.
- Hosts with IP addresses within a subnet must use the subnet’s broadcast address for local broadcast communication.
- Incorrectly identifying the subnet block or confusing network and broadcast addresses leads to common subnetting mistakes on the CCNA exam.
- Cisco devices use subnet masks to determine the network and broadcast addresses, which are critical for routing and local traffic delivery.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Related practice questions
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller blocks by borrowing bits from the host portion to create subnets with specific address ranges.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 172.16.10.63 — A /27 uses blocks of 32 addresses. In plain language, the last-octet ranges are 0–31, 32–63, 64–95, and so on. Since the host address ends in 62, it belongs to the 32–63 block. The last address in that block is the broadcast address, so the broadcast is 172.16.10.63. This is a classic subnetting question because it requires you to place the host inside the correct block and then identify the last address in that block rather than guessing based on the host value alone.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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