The answer is a missing A record for 'intranet.company.local' mapping to 192.168.10.50. This is correct because the workstation can ping the server’s IP address, proving Layer 3 connectivity and that the server is online, yet the hostname fails to resolve—a classic symptom of an incomplete DNS mapping. Since other services like mail.company.local work, the DNS zone is functional, but no A record exists to translate the specific hostname to its IP. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this scenario tests your ability to isolate DNS resolution failures from network connectivity issues, a common trap where students confuse a working ping with proper name resolution. Remember the memory tip: “Ping works, name fails? Check the A record, not the cables.”
CCNA Network Services and Security Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network services and security. 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.
A user reports that they cannot access the company's internal web server at 'intranet.company.local' from their workstation. The workstation can ping the web server's IP address 192.168.10.50 successfully, and other internal services like email (mail.company.local) are reachable. Which DNS record issue is most likely causing this 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.
Add a CNAME record that aliases 'intranet.company.local' to 'webserver.company.local'
Why wrong: A CNAME record could work if an existing A record for 'webserver.company.local' exists, but the issue is that no A record exists for 'intranet.company.local' at all. Adding a CNAME without an underlying A record would still result in a non-existent domain error.
B
Add an A record mapping 'intranet.company.local' to IP address 192.168.10.50
The nslookup shows that 'intranet.company.local' does not resolve, while the IP is reachable. Adding an A record directly associates the hostname with the correct IP, fixing the resolution failure.
C
Verify the PTR record for 192.168.10.50 points to 'intranet.company.local'
Why wrong: The PTR record is used for reverse lookups (IP to name), which is not the issue here. The forward lookup (name to IP) is failing, so modifying the PTR record would not resolve the problem.
D
Check the NS records for the 'company.local' zone to ensure proper delegation
Why wrong: NS records define authoritative name servers for a zone. Since other hostnames like 'mail.company.local' resolve correctly, the zone is properly delegated and the NS records are functioning. The problem is specific to one missing record.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add an A record mapping 'intranet.company.local' to IP address 192.168.10.50
The workstation can ping the web server's IP address (192.168.10.50), confirming network connectivity and that the server is online. However, the user cannot access the server by its hostname 'intranet.company.local', which indicates a DNS resolution failure. Since other internal services like email are reachable, the DNS zone is functioning, but there is no A record that maps the hostname 'intranet' to its IP address. Adding an A record for 'intranet.company.local' pointing to 192.168.10.50 will resolve the issue.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Add a CNAME record that aliases 'intranet.company.local' to 'webserver.company.local'
Why it's wrong here
A CNAME record could work if an existing A record for 'webserver.company.local' exists, but the issue is that no A record exists for 'intranet.company.local' at all. Adding a CNAME without an underlying A record would still result in a non-existent domain error.
✓
Add an A record mapping 'intranet.company.local' to IP address 192.168.10.50
Why this is correct
The nslookup shows that 'intranet.company.local' does not resolve, while the IP is reachable. Adding an A record directly associates the hostname with the correct IP, fixing the resolution failure.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Verify the PTR record for 192.168.10.50 points to 'intranet.company.local'
Why it's wrong here
The PTR record is used for reverse lookups (IP to name), which is not the issue here. The forward lookup (name to IP) is failing, so modifying the PTR record would not resolve the problem.
✗
Check the NS records for the 'company.local' zone to ensure proper delegation
Why it's wrong here
NS records define authoritative name servers for a zone. Since other hostnames like 'mail.company.local' resolve correctly, the zone is properly delegated and the NS records are functioning. The problem is specific to one missing record.
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.
✓Add an A record mapping 'intranet.company.local' to IP address 192.168.10.50Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The nslookup shows that 'intranet.company.local' does not resolve, while the IP is reachable. Adding an A record directly associates the hostname with the correct IP, fixing the resolution failure.
✗Add a CNAME record that aliases 'intranet.company.local' to 'webserver.company.local'Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The root cause is a missing A record; a CNAME record would not resolve without an A record for the target.
✗Verify the PTR record for 192.168.10.50 points to 'intranet.company.local'Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
PTR records are not used for forward name resolution; the issue is with the forward lookup zone.
✗Check the NS records for the 'company.local' zone to ensure proper delegationWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The zone delegation is working (other records resolve), so NS records are not the cause.
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: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between forward DNS records (A/AAAA) and reverse DNS records (PTR), and candidates mistakenly choose PTR when the symptom is a forward resolution failure, confusing the direction of the lookup.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In DNS, an A record (Address record) maps a hostname to an IPv4 address and is essential for forward name resolution. When a client attempts to access a web server by hostname, the DNS resolver queries the authoritative DNS server for an A record; if none exists, the resolution fails even if the server is reachable by IP. In a real-world scenario, a misconfigured web server might also require a matching Host header, but the core issue here is the missing A record, which is the first step in the resolution chain.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 200-301 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
Network Services and Security — This question tests Network Services and Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add an A record mapping 'intranet.company.local' to IP address 192.168.10.50 — The workstation can ping the web server's IP address (192.168.10.50), confirming network connectivity and that the server is online. However, the user cannot access the server by its hostname 'intranet.company.local', which indicates a DNS resolution failure. Since other internal services like email are reachable, the DNS zone is functioning, but there is no A record that maps the hostname 'intranet' to its IP address. Adding an A record for 'intranet.company.local' pointing to 192.168.10.50 will resolve the issue.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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