The answer is to verify whether the server in VLAN 20 has the correct default gateway configured. This is the next logical step because the host on VLAN 10 can already ping its own SVI, confirming that Layer 2 connectivity, the access port, and the local VLAN interface are functioning properly. Since the Layer 3 switch has both VLAN interfaces up, the issue is not with the switch’s routing or the SVI status—it is likely that the server in VLAN 20 does not know where to send its reply traffic. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this scenario tests your ability to isolate inter-VLAN connectivity problems by following a systematic troubleshooting methodology, moving from the source outward. A common trap is to immediately check the trunk or routing protocol, but if the source can reach its gateway, the problem almost always lies at the destination host’s IP stack. Remember the memory tip: “If the source can ping its gateway, check the destination’s gateway first.”
CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network infrastructure and connectivity. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: 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.. 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.
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?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
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.
Key principle: 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.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Whether the server in VLAN 20 has the correct default gateway
Why this is correct
End-host gateway issues are a very common reason for one-way inter-VLAN failures.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
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.
Native VLAN settings are not the first thing to inspect for this symptom.
✗
Whether the host should use a /8 mask instead of /24
Why it's wrong here
That would create a different kind of problem and is not implied here.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
Key takeaway
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.
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 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., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — This question tests Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — 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?
Review 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., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
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.
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