The answer is DNS failure when a user cannot access any websites by name but can reach them by IP address. This is because the Domain Name System (DNS) translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses; if the DNS service is down or misconfigured, the browser cannot resolve the URL, even though network connectivity and other services like DHCP may be functioning perfectly. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, troubleshooting network services symptoms like this tests your ability to isolate the most direct cause from a set of overlapping issues—a common trap is confusing a DHCP failure (which would prevent any IP configuration) with a DNS failure. For NTP, misaligned event timelines point directly to clock synchronization problems, while Syslog issues appear when centralized logs are missing. A solid memory tip: think of DNS as the phonebook—if you know the number (IP) but not the name, the phonebook is broken.
CCNA Network Services and Security Practice Question
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 hostnames to IP addresses and hostname resolution failures directly indicate DNS service issues.. 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 user or host symptom to the service most directly suggested 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.
DNS failure prevents resolution of domain names to IP addresses, so no websites can be accessed. This is the most direct symptom of a DNS issue.
B
Cannot access specific websites
Why wrong: This is incorrect because inability to access specific websites while others work typically indicates a firewall or proxy blocking those sites, not a DNS failure.
C
Intermittent connectivity loss
Why wrong: This is incorrect because intermittent loss is usually due to faulty hardware or cabling, not a DNS issue.
D
Duplicate IP address error
Why wrong: This is incorrect because a duplicate IP address error is caused by IP address conflict, not DNS failure.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Cannot access any websites
DNS translates domain names to IP addresses; when a device reaches sites by IP but not by name, the most direct cause is DNS failure. DHCP automatically assigns IP configurations; a host not receiving an IP configuration automatically points directly to a DHCP issue. NTP synchronizes clocks across devices; event timelines from multiple devices not aligning indicates an NTP problem. Syslog centralizes device logs; administrators cannot see centralized events suggests Syslog is misconfigured or unreachable.
Key principle: DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses and hostname resolution failures directly indicate DNS service issues.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Cannot access any websites
Why this is correct
DNS failure prevents resolution of domain names to IP addresses, so no websites can be accessed. This is the most direct symptom of a DNS issue.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses and hostname resolution failures directly indicate DNS service issues.
✗
Cannot access specific websites
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because inability to access specific websites while others work typically indicates a firewall or proxy blocking those sites, not a DNS failure.
✗
Intermittent connectivity loss
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because intermittent loss is usually due to faulty hardware or cabling, not a DNS issue.
✗
Duplicate IP address error
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because a duplicate IP address error is caused by IP address conflict, not DNS failure.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
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.
✓Cannot access any websitesCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
DNS failure prevents resolution of domain names to IP addresses, so no websites can be accessed. This is the most direct symptom of a DNS issue.
✗Cannot access specific websitesWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DNS failure would block all websites, not just specific ones.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse DNS with content filtering, thinking DNS could selectively block sites.
✗Intermittent connectivity lossWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DNS failures are consistent (all websites fail) rather than intermittent.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think DNS timeouts cause intermittent issues, but DNS failures are typically persistent.
✗Duplicate IP address errorWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Duplicate IP errors are related to DHCP or static IP misconfiguration, not DNS.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may associate IP address issues with DNS because both involve network layer problems.
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
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is to associate 'host does not receive IP configuration' with DNS or NTP, but the most direct service is DHCP.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
IP services like DNS, DHCP, NTP, and Syslog play critical roles in network operations and troubleshooting. DNS (Domain Name System) resolves human-readable hostnames into IP addresses, enabling devices to locate services by name. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) dynamically assigns IP addresses and network configuration to hosts, ensuring they can communicate on the network without manual setup. NTP (Network Time Protocol) synchronizes clocks across devices, which is essential for accurate logging and time-sensitive applications. Syslog provides centralized logging of network events, allowing administrators to monitor and troubleshoot network behavior effectively.
When troubleshooting, the decision process involves mapping observed symptoms to the most likely service domain. Hostname resolution failures directly suggest DNS issues because DNS is responsible for translating names to IPs. Missing dynamic IP addresses indicate DHCP problems since DHCP leases and renewals control address assignment. Inconsistent timestamps on logs or devices point to NTP failures, as time synchronization is its core function. Missing centralized event visibility or absent logs suggest Syslog misconfiguration or failure, as Syslog aggregates and forwards logs from network devices.
A common exam trap is to confuse these services due to their interrelated nature in network operations. For instance, a device without an IP address cannot perform DNS lookups, but the root cause is DHCP failure, not DNS. Similarly, incorrect timestamps might be mistaken for logging issues, but they stem from NTP problems. Understanding the distinct roles and symptoms of each IP service helps avoid misdiagnosis and ensures efficient troubleshooting aligned with Cisco CCNA 200-301 exam expectations.
KKey Concepts to Remember
DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses and hostname resolution failures directly indicate DNS service issues.
DHCP dynamically assigns IP addresses to hosts, so missing dynamic addressing symptoms point to DHCP problems.
NTP synchronizes device clocks, and inconsistent timestamps on logs or devices suggest NTP synchronization failures.
Syslog centralizes event logging, so missing centralized event visibility typically indicates Syslog configuration or forwarding issues.
Troubleshooting IP services requires mapping symptoms to the service domain that most directly causes them for efficient root cause analysis.
Devices without DHCP-assigned IP addresses cannot perform DNS lookups, so DHCP failure can indirectly cause DNS symptoms but is not the DNS service issue itself.
NTP failures affect time-dependent functions like logging timestamps but do not impact IP addressing or hostname resolution.
Syslog issues affect event visibility and monitoring but do not influence IP address assignment or name resolution.
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
DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses and hostname resolution failures directly indicate DNS service issues.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 200-301 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses and hostname resolution failures directly indicate DNS service issues. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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 dNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses and hostname resolution failures directly indicate DNS service issues., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Network Services and Security — This question tests Network Services and Security — DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses and hostname resolution failures directly indicate DNS service issues..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cannot access any websites — DNS translates domain names to IP addresses; when a device reaches sites by IP but not by name, the most direct cause is DNS failure. DHCP automatically assigns IP configurations; a host not receiving an IP configuration automatically points directly to a DHCP issue. NTP synchronizes clocks across devices; event timelines from multiple devices not aligning indicates an NTP problem. Syslog centralizes device logs; administrators cannot see centralized events suggests Syslog is misconfigured or unreachable.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review dNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses and hostname resolution failures directly indicate DNS service issues., 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?
DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses and hostname resolution failures directly indicate DNS service issues.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Match each service to the symptom it most directly relates to when troubleshooting.
medium
✓ A.DNS: Users cannot access the website by name but can by IP
✓ B.DHCP: Clients receive IP addresses from a different subnet
✓ C.Web server: HTTP 500 errors on the application
✓ D.Database: Slow query responses and timeouts
Why A: Each service is paired with a symptom directly related to its malfunction.
Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.