Cannot Ping Default Gateway on Same VLAN? Missing SVI
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network infrastructure and connectivity. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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
Switch# show running-config interface GigabitEthernet0/1
Building configuration...
Current configuration : 155 bytes
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/1
description Access Port for VLAN 10
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 10
no ip address
spanning-tree portfast
end
Switch# show vlan brief
VLAN Name Status Ports
---- -------------------------------- --------- -------------------------------
1 default active Gi0/2, Gi0/3, Gi0/4
10 Engineering active Gi0/1
100 Management active Gi0/24
1002 fddi-default act/unsup
1003 token-ring-default act/unsup
1004 fddinet-default act/unsup
1005 trnet-default act/unsup
Switch# show interfaces GigabitEthernet0/1 switchport
Name: Gi0/1
Switchport: Enabled
Administrative Mode: static access
Operational Mode: static access
Administrative Trunking Encapsulation: dot1q
Operational Trunking Encapsulation: native
Negotiation of Trunking: Off
Access Mode VLAN: 10 (Engineering)
Trunking Native Mode VLAN: 1 (default)
Administrative Native VLAN tagging: enabled
Voice VLAN: none
Administrative private-vlan host-association: none
Administrative private-vlan mapping: none
Administrative private-vlan trunk native VLAN: none
Administrative private-vlan trunk Native VLAN tagging: enabled
Administrative private-vlan trunk encapsulation: dot1q
Administrative private-vlan trunk normal VLANs: none
Administrative private-vlan trunk private VLANs: none
Operational private-vlan: none
Trunking VLANs Enabled: ALL
Pruning VLANs Enabled: 2-1001
Capture Mode Disabled
Capture VLANs Allowed: ALL
Protected: false
Appliance trust: none
A user on VLAN 10 reports that they cannot ping the default gateway at 192.168.10.1 from their PC with IP 192.168.10.50/24. The switch interface connecting to the PC is up/up, and the PC shows a valid IP configuration. What is the most likely cause of this connectivity failure?
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.
Exhibit
Switch# show running-config interface GigabitEthernet0/1
Building configuration...
Current configuration : 155 bytes
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/1
description Access Port for VLAN 10
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 10
no ip address
spanning-tree portfast
end
Switch# show vlan brief
VLAN Name Status Ports
---- -------------------------------- --------- -------------------------------
1 default active Gi0/2, Gi0/3, Gi0/4
10 Engineering active Gi0/1
100 Management active Gi0/24
1002 fddi-default act/unsup
1003 token-ring-default act/unsup
1004 fddinet-default act/unsup
1005 trnet-default act/unsup
Switch# show interfaces GigabitEthernet0/1 switchport
Name: Gi0/1
Switchport: Enabled
Administrative Mode: static access
Operational Mode: static access
Administrative Trunking Encapsulation: dot1q
Operational Trunking Encapsulation: native
Negotiation of Trunking: Off
Access Mode VLAN: 10 (Engineering)
Trunking Native Mode VLAN: 1 (default)
Administrative Native VLAN tagging: enabled
Voice VLAN: none
Administrative private-vlan host-association: none
Administrative private-vlan mapping: none
Administrative private-vlan trunk native VLAN: none
Administrative private-vlan trunk Native VLAN tagging: enabled
Administrative private-vlan trunk encapsulation: dot1q
Administrative private-vlan trunk normal VLANs: none
Administrative private-vlan trunk private VLANs: none
Operational private-vlan: none
Trunking VLANs Enabled: ALL
Pruning VLANs Enabled: 2-1001
Capture Mode Disabled
Capture VLANs Allowed: ALL
Protected: false
Appliance trust: none
A
Change the switchport mode to trunk to allow VLAN 10 traffic.
Why wrong: This would not help because the PC is an access device and trunking is not needed.
B
Configure an SVI for VLAN 10 with an IP address in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet.
This creates a Layer 3 interface on the switch that can serve as the default gateway for hosts in VLAN 10.
C
Change the PC's IP address to a different subnet, such as 192.168.20.0/24.
Why wrong: This would not solve the problem because the PC would still need a default gateway reachable on its subnet.
D
Recreate VLAN 10 and reassign the port to it.
Why wrong: The VLAN exists and the port is correctly assigned, so recreating it would not fix the missing SVI.
The answer is that the switch is missing an SVI for VLAN 10. This is the most likely cause because the PC and the default gateway are on the same subnet, but the switch—acting as the Layer 2 intermediary—has no Layer 3 interface in that VLAN to process ARP requests or route traffic. Without a configured Switch Virtual Interface (SVI) with an IP address in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet, the switch cannot respond to the PC’s ARP for the gateway, so the ping fails even though the access port is up/up and the PC has a valid IP. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of inter-VLAN routing fundamentals and the necessity of an SVI for any VLAN that needs Layer 3 connectivity. A common trap is assuming a Layer 2 switch can forward pings to a gateway without an SVI, or confusing an SVI with a routed port. Remember: no SVI, no ARP reply—so no ping.
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
✓
Configure an SVI for VLAN 10 with an IP address in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet.
The PC and default gateway are on the same subnet (192.168.10.0/24), but the switch lacks a Layer 3 interface for VLAN 10. Without an SVI (Switch Virtual Interface) configured with an IP address in that subnet, the switch cannot route traffic to the gateway or respond to ARP requests from the PC, breaking connectivity even though the access port is up/up.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Change the switchport mode to trunk to allow VLAN 10 traffic.
Why it's wrong here
This would not help because the PC is an access device and trunking is not needed.
✓
Configure an SVI for VLAN 10 with an IP address in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet.
Why this is correct
This creates a Layer 3 interface on the switch that can serve as the default gateway for hosts in VLAN 10.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Change the PC's IP address to a different subnet, such as 192.168.20.0/24.
Why it's wrong here
This would not solve the problem because the PC would still need a default gateway reachable on its subnet.
✗
Recreate VLAN 10 and reassign the port to it.
Why it's wrong here
The VLAN exists and the port is correctly assigned, so recreating it would not fix the missing SVI.
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.
✓Configure an SVI for VLAN 10 with an IP address in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This creates a Layer 3 interface on the switch that can serve as the default gateway for hosts in VLAN 10.
✗Change the switchport mode to trunk to allow VLAN 10 traffic.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A trunk port is used to carry multiple VLANs between switches, not to connect an end device like a PC. Configuring the switchport as trunk would break connectivity because the PC expects an access port.
Why candidates choose this
Students may confuse trunking with allowing VLAN traffic, thinking that setting the port to trunk will enable VLAN 10 traffic to pass, but trunking is for inter-switch links, not end devices.
✗Change the PC's IP address to a different subnet, such as 192.168.20.0/24.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Changing the PC's IP subnet would not resolve the issue because the PC would still need a default gateway on its new subnet. The root cause is the missing SVI on the switch, not the PC's IP address.
Why candidates choose this
A student might think the PC is on the wrong subnet if it cannot ping the gateway, but the PC's IP is correctly within the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet. Changing subnets would only create additional problems.
✗Recreate VLAN 10 and reassign the port to it.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Recreating VLAN 10 and reassigning the port does not address the missing SVI. The VLAN already exists and the port is correctly assigned; the issue is at Layer 3, not Layer 2.
Why candidates choose this
Students may assume that the VLAN configuration is corrupted or the port assignment is incorrect, leading them to recreate the VLAN. However, the problem is the lack of a gateway, not a VLAN issue.
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
Cisco often tests the misconception that a VLAN alone provides Layer 3 connectivity, when in fact an SVI or a separate router-on-a-stick configuration is required for inter-VLAN routing and default gateway functionality.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
An SVI is a virtual Layer 3 interface on a switch that corresponds to a specific VLAN; it must be created with the 'interface vlan 10' command and assigned an IP address (e.g., 192.168.10.1/24) to act as the default gateway. Without it, the switch operates only at Layer 2 and cannot forward packets between VLANs or respond to ARP requests for the gateway IP, even if the VLAN is active and the port is assigned. In a real-world scenario, this often occurs when a network engineer forgets to configure the SVI after setting up VLANs for a new subnet.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
Visual reference
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — This question tests Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure an SVI for VLAN 10 with an IP address in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet. — The PC and default gateway are on the same subnet (192.168.10.0/24), but the switch lacks a Layer 3 interface for VLAN 10. Without an SVI (Switch Virtual Interface) configured with an IP address in that subnet, the switch cannot route traffic to the gateway or respond to ARP requests from the PC, breaking connectivity even though the access port is up/up.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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