The answer is to configure a default route on R1 with the command `ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.1.10.254`. This is correct because PC1 can reach its local default gateway (10.1.10.1) on VLAN 10, proving Layer 2 and the SVI are working, but the router lacks a route for any destination outside that subnet—without a default route, R1 drops packets destined for the internet. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of default route configuration for internet access from a VLAN, often appearing in troubleshooting simlets where a host can ping the gateway but not external IPs like 8.8.8.8. A common trap is confusing the gateway IP (10.1.10.1) with the next-hop address (10.1.10.254); remember the default route must point to the upstream router, not the VLAN interface itself. Memory tip: "Zero-zero points to the next-hop, not your own door."
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.
Network Topology
You are troubleshooting a client connectivity issue on VLAN 10. The client PC1 is connected to switch SW1, which is connected to router R1 acting as the default gateway. PC1 can ping its own IP and the default gateway (10.1.10.1) but cannot reach the internet. From the provided router outputs, identify the fault and apply the necessary fix on R1.
PC1 ipconfig output:
Ethernet adapter Ethernet0:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 10.1.10.100
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.1.10.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 8.8.8.8
R1# show running-config | section interface GigabitEthernet0/0.10
interface GigabitEthernet0/0.10
encapsulation dot1Q 10
ip address 10.1.10.1 255.255.255.0
R1# show ip route
Codes: L - local, 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
10.0.0.0/24 is subnetted, 1 subnets
C 10.1.10.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0.10
R1# ping 8.8.8.8
Type escape sequence to abort.
Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 8.8.8.8, timeout is 2 seconds:
.....
Success rate is 0 percent (0/5)
A
Configure a default route on R1: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.1.10.254
This is correct because PC1 can reach the gateway (10.1.10.1) but not the internet (8.8.8.8), indicating R1 lacks a route to external networks. Adding a default route pointing to the upstream router (10.1.10.254) enables R1 to forward traffic destined outside the local subnet.
B
Configure a static route on R1: ip route 8.8.8.8 255.255.255.255 10.1.10.254
Why wrong: This is incorrect because a static route to a single host (8.8.8.8) would only allow reachability to that specific IP, not the entire internet. The problem requires a default route to forward all unknown traffic.
C
Configure a default route on R1: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.1.10.1
Why wrong: This is incorrect because 10.1.10.1 is the gateway address on R1 itself (the interface facing VLAN 10). Pointing the default route to its own IP would create a loop; traffic would not be forwarded to the upstream router.
D
Configure a default route on R1: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 GigabitEthernet0/0
Why wrong: This is incorrect because while using an exit interface is valid for point-to-point links, it is not recommended for Ethernet multi-access networks without a next-hop IP, as it may cause ARP issues and inefficient routing.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure a default route on R1: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.1.10.254
PC1 can ping its own IP and the gateway (10.1.10.1) but not the internet (8.8.8.8). The router R1 has no default route to forward traffic to the internet. The fix is to configure a default route on R1 pointing to the next-hop IP address of the upstream router (e.g., 10.1.10.254) or an exit interface. After adding the default route, R1 will be able to forward traffic outside the local 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 a default route on R1: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.1.10.254
Why this is correct
This is correct because PC1 can reach the gateway (10.1.10.1) but not the internet (8.8.8.8), indicating R1 lacks a route to external networks. Adding a default route pointing to the upstream router (10.1.10.254) enables R1 to forward traffic destined outside the local subnet.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
✗
Configure a static route on R1: ip route 8.8.8.8 255.255.255.255 10.1.10.254
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because a static route to a single host (8.8.8.8) would only allow reachability to that specific IP, not the entire internet. The problem requires a default route to forward all unknown traffic.
✗
Configure a default route on R1: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.1.10.1
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because 10.1.10.1 is the gateway address on R1 itself (the interface facing VLAN 10). Pointing the default route to its own IP would create a loop; traffic would not be forwarded to the upstream router.
✗
Configure a default route on R1: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 GigabitEthernet0/0
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because while using an exit interface is valid for point-to-point links, it is not recommended for Ethernet multi-access networks without a next-hop IP, as it may cause ARP issues and inefficient routing.
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 a default route on R1: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.1.10.254Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because PC1 can reach the gateway (10.1.10.1) but not the internet (8.8.8.8), indicating R1 lacks a route to external networks. Adding a default route pointing to the upstream router (10.1.10.254) enables R1 to forward traffic destined outside the local subnet.
✗Configure a static route on R1: ip route 8.8.8.8 255.255.255.255 10.1.10.254Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that a host route does not provide general internet access; it only covers the specified destination.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates pick this because they see the ping failure to 8.8.8.8 and assume a route to that specific address will fix it, misunderstanding the need for a default route.
✗Configure a default route on R1: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.1.10.1Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that the next-hop must be a different device (upstream router), not the router's own interface IP.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates pick this because they confuse the client's default gateway (10.1.10.1) with the router's next-hop for internet traffic, assuming the same IP works.
✗Configure a default route on R1: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 GigabitEthernet0/0Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error is that on Ethernet interfaces, a next-hop IP is required to avoid potential ARP resolution problems; using only the exit interface is not the standard practice.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates pick this because they recall that default routes can be configured with an exit interface, but they overlook the Ethernet multi-access context where a next-hop IP is necessary.
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 a default route on R1: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.1.10.254 — PC1 can ping its own IP and the gateway (10.1.10.1) but not the internet (8.8.8.8). The router R1 has no default route to forward traffic to the internet. The fix is to configure a default route on R1 pointing to the next-hop IP address of the upstream router (e.g., 10.1.10.254) or an exit interface. After adding the default route, R1 will be able to forward traffic outside the local 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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
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