The answer is that the SVI is down because the VLAN has not been created in the VLAN database. An SVI, or Switch Virtual Interface, requires an active Layer 2 VLAN to exist on the switch before its Layer 3 interface can transition to an up/up state; without the VLAN being created, the SVI remains administratively up but protocol down, resulting in the down/down condition you see. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the dependency between Layer 2 VLANs and Layer 3 SVIs—a common trap is assuming that simply configuring the interface with an IP address is enough, when in fact the VLAN itself must first exist. Remember the memory tip: "No VLAN, no SVI—the Layer 2 foundation must come before the Layer 3 gateway."
CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
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 ip interface brief
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
Vlan1 192.168.1.1 YES NVRAM up up
Vlan10 192.168.10.1 YES NVRAM down down
GigabitEthernet0/1 unassigned YES NVRAM down down
GigabitEthernet0/2 unassigned YES NVRAM down down
Switch# show running-config interface vlan10
Building configuration...
Current configuration : 63 bytes
!
interface Vlan10
ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0
no shutdown
end
A network engineer is troubleshooting connectivity issues for hosts in VLAN 10. Hosts in VLAN 10 are unable to ping the default gateway at 192.168.10.1. The engineer checks the switch configuration and notices that the SVI for VLAN 10 is configured with an IP address, but the interface is in a down/down state. What is the most likely cause of this issue?
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.
Switch# show ip interface brief
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
Vlan1 192.168.1.1 YES NVRAM up up
Vlan10 192.168.10.1 YES NVRAM down down
GigabitEthernet0/1 unassigned YES NVRAM down down
GigabitEthernet0/2 unassigned YES NVRAM down down
Switch# show running-config interface vlan10
Building configuration...
Current configuration : 63 bytes
!
interface Vlan10
ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0
no shutdown
end
A
The interface is administratively shut down.
Why wrong: The 'no shutdown' command is present in the configuration, so the interface is not administratively down.
B
VLAN 10 does not exist in the VLAN database.
The SVI for VLAN 10 is down/down because the VLAN is not created. Once VLAN 10 is created with the 'vlan 10' command in global configuration mode, the SVI will come up if there is at least one active port in that VLAN.
C
The IP address is not in the correct subnet for VLAN 10.
Why wrong: The IP address 192.168.10.1/24 is a valid address for VLAN 10, and the subnet mask is correct.
D
The switch does not have a default gateway configured.
Why wrong: A default gateway is not required for the SVI to be operational. It is only needed for routing traffic outside the local subnet.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
VLAN 10 does not exist in the VLAN database.
An SVI (Switch Virtual Interface) will remain in a down/down state if the corresponding VLAN does not exist in the switch's VLAN database. Even if the SVI is configured with an IP address, the interface cannot come up because there is no Layer 2 VLAN to associate with it. This is a common cause of SVI down/down issues when the VLAN has not been created or has been deleted.
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.
✗
The interface is administratively shut down.
Why it's wrong here
The 'no shutdown' command is present in the configuration, so the interface is not administratively down.
✓
VLAN 10 does not exist in the VLAN database.
Why this is correct
The SVI for VLAN 10 is down/down because the VLAN is not created. Once VLAN 10 is created with the 'vlan 10' command in global configuration mode, the SVI will come up if there is at least one active port in that VLAN.
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.
✗
The IP address is not in the correct subnet for VLAN 10.
Why it's wrong here
The IP address 192.168.10.1/24 is a valid address for VLAN 10, and the subnet mask is correct.
✗
The switch does not have a default gateway configured.
Why it's wrong here
A default gateway is not required for the SVI to be operational. It is only needed for routing traffic outside the local subnet.
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.
✓VLAN 10 does not exist in the VLAN database.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The SVI for VLAN 10 is down/down because the VLAN is not created. Once VLAN 10 is created with the 'vlan 10' command in global configuration mode, the SVI will come up if there is at least one active port in that VLAN.
✗The interface is administratively shut down.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The running-config shows 'no shutdown', so this is not the cause.
✗The IP address is not in the correct subnet for VLAN 10.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The IP address and subnet mask are correctly configured for the VLAN.
✗The switch does not have a default gateway configured.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The SVI status is not affected by the presence or absence of a default gateway.
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 distinction between an SVI being down due to a missing VLAN versus an administratively shutdown interface, leading candidates to mistakenly choose the administrative shutdown option when the interface status shows 'down/down' instead of 'administratively down'.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The 'no shutdown' command is present in the configuration, so the interface is not administratively down.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When an SVI is created, the switch attempts to bring the interface up only if the associated VLAN exists in the VLAN database and has at least one active access or trunk port in that VLAN. If the VLAN is missing, the SVI remains in a down/down state regardless of the IP configuration. This behavior is defined in Cisco IOS and is verified with the 'show vlan brief' command to confirm VLAN existence.
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.
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: VLAN 10 does not exist in the VLAN database. — An SVI (Switch Virtual Interface) will remain in a down/down state if the corresponding VLAN does not exist in the switch's VLAN database. Even if the SVI is configured with an IP address, the interface cannot come up because there is no Layer 2 VLAN to associate with it. This is a common cause of SVI down/down issues when the VLAN has not been created or has been deleted.
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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