Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
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?
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
NTP
Time sync problems do not usually cause this symptom.
B
Best answer
DNS
Name resolution failure fits the symptoms exactly.
C
Distractor review
Syslog
Syslog does not affect web name resolution.
D
Distractor review
CDP
CDP is a Cisco neighbor discovery protocol.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
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.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- DNS resolves human-readable domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites by name rather than numeric IP.
- Successful ping to an IP address confirms basic network connectivity but does not verify DNS functionality.
- When a user can ping an IP address but cannot reach a website by name, it indicates a failure in the DNS service or configuration.
- NTP synchronizes device clocks and does not impact hostname resolution or web browsing capabilities.
- Syslog collects and stores system logs for troubleshooting but does not influence DNS or IP connectivity.
- CDP is a Cisco proprietary protocol used for discovering directly connected Cisco devices and does not affect DNS resolution.
- Cisco devices rely on DNS settings configured either locally or via DHCP to resolve domain names during web access.
- Troubleshooting name resolution issues requires verifying DNS server reachability, DNS configuration, and DNS query responses.
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?
DNS resolves human-readable domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites by name rather than numeric IP.
What is the correct answer to this question?
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.
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.
Discussion
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