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. A key principle to apply: dNS resolves human-readable domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites by name rather than numeric IP.. 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.
User can ping 8.8.8.8 User cannot resolve www.example.com
Exhibit: A user can ping 8.8.8.8 successfully but cannot browse to www.example.com by name. Which service is the most likely failing component?
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.
User can ping 8.8.8.8 User cannot resolve www.example.com
NTP
Why wrong: Time sync problems do not usually cause this symptom.
DNS
Name resolution failure fits the symptoms exactly.
Syslog
Why wrong: Syslog does not affect web name resolution.
CDP
Why wrong: CDP is a Cisco neighbor discovery protocol.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
DNS
If connectivity to an IP address works but name-based access fails, the path is up and the problem is usually name resolution. DNS is the service that translates hostnames into IP addresses.
Key principle: DNS resolves human-readable domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites by name rather than numeric IP.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
NTP
Why it's wrong here
Time sync problems do not usually cause this symptom.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question where the focus is on time synchronization issues, such as a scenario where a user is unable to authenticate to a time-sensitive application due to incorrect timestamps, NTP would be the correct answer. For example, if a user cannot log into a secure service because their device's clock is out of sync, NTP would be the failing component.
DNS
Why this is correct
Name resolution failure fits the symptoms exactly.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
DNS resolves human-readable domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites by name rather than numeric IP.
Syslog
Why it's wrong here
Syslog does not affect web name resolution.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were to ask about issues related to logging or monitoring network events, such as 'What service is failing if logs are not being recorded from network devices?', then Syslog would be the correct answer as it directly relates to log management.
CDP
Why it's wrong here
CDP is a Cisco neighbor discovery protocol.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question asking about network topology issues where devices are not discovering each other or communicating effectively due to misconfigured CDP settings, CDP would be the correct answer. For example, if the question stated that devices are unable to identify each other on the same VLAN, CDP would be relevant.
Option-by-option analysis
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.
Why this is correct
Name resolution failure fits the symptoms exactly.
Why this is wrong here
NTP (Network Time Protocol) is used for clock synchronization between devices. While time discrepancies can cause issues with authentication or logging, they do not prevent name resolution or web browsing by hostname.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question where the focus is on time synchronization issues, such as a scenario where a user is unable to authenticate to a time-sensitive application due to incorrect timestamps, NTP would be the correct answer. For example, if a user cannot log into a secure service because their device's clock is out of sync, NTP would be the failing component.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that time synchronization is required for secure web browsing (HTTPS) or DNS security extensions, but basic name resolution does not depend on accurate time.
Why this is wrong here
Syslog is a protocol for sending log messages from network devices to a log server. It does not play any role in name resolution or web browsing; its failure would not affect the ability to browse by hostname.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were to ask about issues related to logging or monitoring network events, such as 'What service is failing if logs are not being recorded from network devices?', then Syslog would be the correct answer as it directly relates to log management.
Why candidates choose this
Students may confuse syslog with DNS because both are application-layer protocols, but syslog is unrelated to name resolution.
Why this is wrong here
CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol) is a Layer 2 protocol used by Cisco devices to discover neighboring Cisco devices. It operates at the data link layer and has no involvement in name resolution or web browsing.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question asking about network topology issues where devices are not discovering each other or communicating effectively due to misconfigured CDP settings, CDP would be the correct answer. For example, if the question stated that devices are unable to identify each other on the same VLAN, CDP would be relevant.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think CDP is related to network discovery and could affect connectivity, but it does not impact name resolution.
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
A common exam trap is assuming that because a user can ping an IP address like 8.8.8.8, all network services are functioning correctly. This leads to mistakenly blaming routing or connectivity issues rather than DNS. Candidates may also confuse NTP or Syslog as affecting web access, but these services do not resolve domain names. Misunderstanding the role of CDP as a discovery protocol rather than a name resolution service can also cause confusion. The key trap is not recognizing that ping tests IP connectivity but DNS is required for translating domain names to IP addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchical and decentralized naming system that translates human-friendly domain names into IP addresses required for routing traffic on the internet or private networks. When a user types a URL like www.example.com, the DNS client on the device sends a query to a DNS server to resolve the domain name into its corresponding IP address. Without DNS, users would need to remember numeric IP addresses, which is impractical. DNS is fundamental to IP services and web browsing functionality in Cisco networks and beyond. In the context of the CCNA exam, when a user can ping an IP address such as 8.8.8.8 but cannot access a website by its domain name, it indicates that the IP routing and connectivity are intact but the DNS service is failing. This failure can be due to misconfigured DNS server addresses, unreachable DNS servers, or DNS query failures. Cisco devices use DNS settings configured manually or obtained via DHCP to perform name resolution. Troubleshooting involves verifying DNS server reachability, checking DNS client settings, and using commands like 'nslookup' or 'ping' with domain names to test resolution. A common confusion in Cisco exams is mixing DNS issues with other IP services like NTP, Syslog, or CDP. NTP synchronizes time but does not affect DNS queries. Syslog collects logs but does not influence name resolution. CDP discovers Cisco neighbors but is unrelated to DNS. Understanding these distinctions helps avoid exam traps where candidates incorrectly blame unrelated services for DNS failures. Practically, network engineers must ensure DNS servers are reachable and correctly configured to maintain seamless web access and IP service functionality.
Key takeaway
DNS resolves human-readable domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites by name rather than numeric IP.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Review dNS resolves human-readable domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites by name rather than numeric IP., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Network Services and Security — This question tests Network Services and Security — DNS resolves human-readable domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites by name rather than numeric IP..
The correct answer is: DNS — If connectivity to an IP address works but name-based access fails, the path is up and the problem is usually name resolution. DNS is the service that translates hostnames into IP addresses.
Review dNS resolves human-readable domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites by name rather than numeric IP., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
DNS resolves human-readable domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites by name rather than numeric IP.
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Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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