Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
MLS# show ip interface brief | include Vlan Vlan10 192.168.10.1 YES manual up up Vlan20 192.168.20.1 YES manual up up
Exhibit: A host on VLAN 10 can ping the local SVI but not a server in VLAN 20. The Layer 3 switch has both VLAN interfaces up. What is the next item to verify first?
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
Best answer
Whether the server in VLAN 20 has the correct default gateway
End-host gateway issues are a very common reason for one-way inter-VLAN failures.
B
Distractor review
Whether the switch should disable IP routing
Inter-VLAN routing needs IP routing enabled.
C
Distractor review
Whether VLAN 10 should be the native VLAN
Native VLAN settings are not the first thing to inspect for this symptom.
D
Distractor review
Whether the host should use a /8 mask instead of /24
That would create a different kind of problem and is not implied here.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is to overlook the remote device’s default gateway configuration and instead suspect the Layer 3 switch’s routing or VLAN setup. Candidates often assume that because the VLAN interfaces are up, routing must be functional. However, if the server in VLAN 20 lacks the correct default gateway pointing to its VLAN SVI, it cannot return traffic to the source host, causing failed pings. This one-way communication failure can mislead candidates into troubleshooting switch settings unnecessarily, wasting time and missing the root cause.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Inter-VLAN routing allows devices in separate VLANs to communicate by routing traffic at Layer 3. On a Layer 3 switch, each VLAN has a Switched Virtual Interface (SVI) configured with an IP address that acts as the default gateway for hosts in that VLAN. When a host sends traffic to a device in another VLAN, it forwards the packet to its default gateway (the SVI). The switch then routes the packet to the destination VLAN’s SVI and forwards it to the target device. In troubleshooting inter-VLAN connectivity, if a host can ping its own VLAN’s SVI but cannot reach a device in another VLAN, the first step is to verify the remote device’s IP configuration. The server in VLAN 20 must have its default gateway set to the VLAN 20 SVI IP address. Without the correct gateway, the server cannot send return traffic back to the source host, causing one-way communication failure. This check is essential before verifying other configurations like IP routing or VLAN trunking. A common exam trap is to assume that because the Layer 3 switch has both VLAN interfaces up, routing must be working correctly. However, even with routing enabled, if the server’s default gateway is incorrect or missing, it will not respond to pings from other VLANs. This leads to a false conclusion that the switch or VLAN configuration is at fault. Understanding the role of default gateways in inter-VLAN routing helps avoid this mistake and focus troubleshooting on end-device configurations first.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- A host on VLAN 10 can ping its local SVI only if the VLAN interface is up and the host’s default gateway is correctly configured.
- Inter-VLAN routing on a Layer 3 switch requires that each VLAN interface (SVI) is up and that IP routing is enabled on the switch.
- A server in VLAN 20 must have the correct IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway pointing to the VLAN 20 SVI to communicate outside its VLAN.
- If a host can ping its own VLAN interface but not devices in another VLAN, the problem often lies in the remote device’s gateway or IP configuration.
- The Layer 3 switch forwards traffic between VLANs only if routing is enabled and the destination device’s network settings allow return traffic.
- Incorrect default gateway settings on end devices cause one-way communication failures during inter-VLAN routing scenarios.
- Native VLAN settings affect trunk links but do not directly impact inter-VLAN routing between hosts on different VLANs.
- Subnet mask mismatches can cause communication issues but are less likely if local VLAN communication and SVI pings succeed.
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.
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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?
A host on VLAN 10 can ping its local SVI only if the VLAN interface is up and the host’s default gateway is correctly configured.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Whether the server in VLAN 20 has the correct default gateway — If the source host can reach its own default gateway, the local VLAN and access port are probably fine. The next practical check is whether the server in VLAN 20 has the correct IP address, mask, and default gateway configured.
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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