- A
ping: Network connectivity between hosts
This command displays the IP routing table, which directly verifies the routes known to the router, including directly connected, static, and dynamic routes.
- B
traceroute: Path and hop-by-hop latency to a destination
This command shows the status and IP address of interfaces, but it does not directly verify the routing table; it verifies interface health and IP configuration.
- C
nslookup: DNS resolution of a hostname to an IP address
Ping tests basic IP connectivity by sending ICMP echo requests, but it does not directly verify the routing table; it verifies end-to-end reachability.
- D
netstat: Active network connections and listening ports
Traceroute shows the path packets take to a destination, but it does not directly verify the routing table; it verifies the path and hop-by-hop forwarding.
Quick Answer
The answer is that ping most directly helps verify network connectivity between hosts, as it uses ICMP echo requests and replies to test the end-to-end reachability and round-trip time across the IP network. This command is fundamental because it confirms whether two devices can communicate at the network layer, isolating issues like routing failures, firewall blocks, or link outages. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, you will often see ping used in troubleshooting scenarios to quickly validate Layer 3 connectivity before moving to more specific tools like traceroute for path analysis or nslookup for DNS resolution. A common trap is assuming a successful ping guarantees full application-layer connectivity, but it only proves IP-level reachability. For memory, remember the mnemonic “Ping Proves Path” — if ping fails, start checking your routing table and physical links first.
CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: the 'show ip route' command displays the router's routing table, allowing verification of learned routes and their administrative distances.. 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.
Match each troubleshooting command focus to what it most directly helps verify.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ping: Network connectivity between hosts
'show ip route' directly displays the routing table, allowing verification of known routes and next-hop paths. 'show ip ospf neighbor' shows OSPF neighbor relationships and their states, confirming adjacency formation. 'show interfaces trunk' reveals trunk status, encapsulation, and allowed VLANs on a trunk link. 'show etherchannel summary' lists all EtherChannel bundles, their member ports, and the bundle's operational status. Each command targets a distinct verification area: routing table contents, OSPF neighbor adjacencies, trunk forwarding details, and EtherChannel bundle status.
Key principle: The 'show ip route' command displays the router's routing table, allowing verification of learned routes and their administrative distances.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
ping: Network connectivity between hosts
Why this is correct
This command displays the IP routing table, which directly verifies the routes known to the router, including directly connected, static, and dynamic routes.
Related concept
The 'show ip route' command displays the router's routing table, allowing verification of learned routes and their administrative distances.
- ✓
traceroute: Path and hop-by-hop latency to a destination
Why this is correct
This command shows the status and IP address of interfaces, but it does not directly verify the routing table; it verifies interface health and IP configuration.
Related concept
The 'show ip route' command displays the router's routing table, allowing verification of learned routes and their administrative distances.
- ✓
nslookup: DNS resolution of a hostname to an IP address
Why this is correct
Ping tests basic IP connectivity by sending ICMP echo requests, but it does not directly verify the routing table; it verifies end-to-end reachability.
Related concept
The 'show ip route' command displays the router's routing table, allowing verification of learned routes and their administrative distances.
- ✓
netstat: Active network connections and listening ports
Why this is correct
Traceroute shows the path packets take to a destination, but it does not directly verify the routing table; it verifies the path and hop-by-hop forwarding.
Related concept
The 'show ip route' command displays the router's routing table, allowing verification of learned routes and their administrative distances.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Do not confuse commands that test connectivity or show interface status with those that display the routing table. 'show ip route' is the only command that directly shows routing table entries.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Troubleshooting Cisco networks efficiently requires understanding the specific verification purpose of each show command. The 'show ip route' command displays the routing table, revealing how the router forwards packets based on learned routes from static configurations or dynamic routing protocols like OSPF or EIGRP. This command is fundamental for verifying that routing decisions align with network design and that routes are correctly installed and preferred according to administrative distance and metrics. The 'show ip ospf neighbor' command focuses on OSPF protocol operation by listing OSPF neighbors and their states. OSPF adjacency formation is critical for route exchange and network stability. This command helps verify that OSPF routers have established proper neighbor relationships, which is a prerequisite for route synchronization. Without adjacency, OSPF routes will not propagate, causing connectivity issues. For VLAN and link aggregation troubleshooting, 'show interfaces trunk' confirms whether a switch port is correctly configured as a trunk and which VLANs are allowed across it. This ensures VLAN traffic segmentation and inter-switch communication. Meanwhile, 'show etherchannel summary' provides a concise status of EtherChannel bundles, showing if member interfaces are bundled correctly and the protocol used (PAgP or LACP). Proper EtherChannel formation improves bandwidth and redundancy, so verifying it prevents link failures and misconfigurations.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- The 'show ip route' command displays the router's routing table, allowing verification of learned routes and their administrative distances.
- The 'show ip ospf neighbor' command lists OSPF neighbors and their states, verifying OSPF adjacency formation essential for route exchange.
- The 'show interfaces trunk' command confirms trunk port status and allowed VLANs, ensuring proper VLAN traffic segmentation across switches.
- The 'show etherchannel summary' command verifies EtherChannel bundle formation and member interface status, confirming link aggregation.
- Routing table verification helps identify whether routing protocols or static routes are correctly installed and preferred for packet forwarding.
- OSPF adjacency verification ensures that routers have established neighbor relationships necessary for exchanging routing information.
- VLAN trunk verification prevents VLAN traffic isolation issues by confirming trunk configuration and VLAN membership.
- EtherChannel verification prevents bandwidth and redundancy problems by ensuring correct link bundling and protocol operation.
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
The 'show ip route' command displays the router's routing table, allowing verification of learned routes and their administrative distances.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the 'show ip route' command displays the router's routing table, allowing verification of learned routes and their administrative distances., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — The 'show ip route' command displays the router's routing table, allowing verification of learned routes and their administrative distances..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: ping: Network connectivity between hosts — 'show ip route' directly displays the routing table, allowing verification of known routes and next-hop paths. 'show ip ospf neighbor' shows OSPF neighbor relationships and their states, confirming adjacency formation. 'show interfaces trunk' reveals trunk status, encapsulation, and allowed VLANs on a trunk link. 'show etherchannel summary' lists all EtherChannel bundles, their member ports, and the bundle's operational status. Each command targets a distinct verification area: routing table contents, OSPF neighbor adjacencies, trunk forwarding details, and EtherChannel bundle status.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review the 'show ip route' command displays the router's routing table, allowing verification of learned routes and their administrative distances., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
The 'show ip route' command displays the router's routing table, allowing verification of learned routes and their administrative distances.
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Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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