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Network Infrastructure and Connectivity →hardTroubleshootingObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is to enter interface configuration mode for the down interface and issue the no shutdown command. This is correct because the show interfaces output will display “administratively down, line protocol is down,” which directly indicates that the shutdown command has been applied to the interface, disabling it at the software level. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this scenario tests your ability to read router interface status and distinguish between a physical layer issue and a configuration error—a common trap is to waste time checking cables or duplex settings when the fix is simply administrative. Remember that “administratively down” always means the interface has been manually disabled with the shutdown command, so the immediate solution is to re-enable it with no shutdown. A helpful memory tip: if you see “admin down,” think “no shut” to bring it back to life.

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.

Network Topology
G0/010.0.0.1/30G0/010.0.0.2/30linkR1R2

You are troubleshooting connectivity between R1 and R2. The link is down, and you need to identify and fix the issue. Examine the provided 'show interfaces' output and running configuration, then apply the necessary commands to restore connectivity.

Question 1hardTroubleshooting
Full question →

Exhibit

R1# show interfaces gigabitEthernet 0/0
GigabitEthernet0/0 is up, line protocol is down
  Hardware is ISR4331, address is aabb.cc00.0100 (bia aabb.cc00.0100)
  Internet address is 10.0.0.1/30
  MTU 1500 bytes, BW 1000000 Kbit/sec, DLY 10 usec,
     reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 1/255
  Encapsulation ARPA, loopback not set
  Keepalive set (10 sec)
  Auto-duplex, Auto-speed, 1000BaseTX/FX
  input errors 0, CRC 0, frame 0, overrun 0, ignored 0
  output errors 0, collisions 0, interface resets 0
  Input queue: 0/75/0/0 (size/max/drops/flushes); Total output drops: 0
  Queueing strategy: fifo
  Output queue: 0/40 (size/max)
  5 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
  5 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
     0 packets input, 0 bytes, 0 no buffer
     Received 0 broadcasts (0 IP multicasts)
     0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
     0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored
     0 watchdog, 0 multicast, 0 pause input
     0 packets output, 0 bytes, 0 underruns
     0 output errors, 0 collisions, 0 interface resets
     0 unknown protocol drops
     0 babbles, 0 late collision, 0 deferred
     0 lost carrier, 0 no carrier, 0 pause output
     0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped out

R1# show running-config interface gigabitEthernet 0/0
Building configuration...

Current configuration : 114 bytes
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/0
 ip address 10.0.0.1 255.255.255.252
 shutdown
end

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

✓

Enter interface configuration mode for the down interface and issue the 'no shutdown' command.

The interface is administratively down because the 'shutdown' command is present. The line protocol is down because the interface is disabled. To fix this, you must issue the 'no shutdown' command on the interface. After that, the interface will come up, and the line protocol will become up if the other side is properly configured.

Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • ✓

    Enter interface configuration mode for the down interface and issue the 'no shutdown' command.

    Why this is correct

    The 'shutdown' command administratively disables an interface. Issuing 'no shutdown' re-enables it, bringing the interface up and allowing the line protocol to come up if the other end is properly configured.

    Related concept

    Authentication checks who the user is.

  • ✗

    Enter global configuration mode and issue the 'interface reset' command to reset the interface counters.

    Why it's wrong here

    This is incorrect because 'interface reset' is not a valid Cisco IOS command. Resetting counters does not bring an administratively down interface up.

  • ✗

    Enter interface configuration mode and issue the 'speed' command to set the interface speed to match the connected device.

    Why it's wrong here

    This is incorrect because the interface is administratively down due to the 'shutdown' command, not due to a speed mismatch. Changing speed does not bring an administratively down interface up.

  • ✗

    Enter interface configuration mode and issue the 'no keepalive' command to disable keepalives.

    Why it's wrong here

    This is incorrect because disabling keepalives does not bring an administratively down interface up. Keepalives are used to detect remote failures, not to enable an interface.

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.

✓Enter interface configuration mode for the down interface and issue the 'no shutdown' command.Correct answer▾

Why this is correct

The 'shutdown' command administratively disables an interface. Issuing 'no shutdown' re-enables it, bringing the interface up and allowing the line protocol to come up if the other end is properly configured.

✗Enter global configuration mode and issue the 'interface reset' command to reset the interface counters.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

The specific factual error: 'interface reset' is not a real command; the correct command to reset counters is 'clear counters'.

Why candidates choose this

Candidates might confuse resetting counters with re-enabling the interface, thinking a reset will fix the issue.

✗Enter interface configuration mode and issue the 'speed' command to set the interface speed to match the connected device.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

The specific factual error: speed mismatch causes line protocol issues but not administrative down state.

Why candidates choose this

Candidates may think that speed/duplex mismatches are common causes of interface down and overlook the administrative shutdown.

✗Enter interface configuration mode and issue the 'no keepalive' command to disable keepalives.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

The specific factual error: 'no keepalive' affects line protocol detection but does not change administrative state.

Why candidates choose this

Candidates might think that keepalives are causing the interface to stay down, but the issue is administrative shutdown.

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: authentication is not authorization

Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.

Trap categories for this question

  • Command / output trap

    This is incorrect because 'interface reset' is not a valid Cisco IOS command. Resetting counters does not bring an administratively down interface up.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Authentication checks who the user is.
  • Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
  • Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
  • AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.

TExam Day Tips

  • Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
  • Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
  • Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.

Key takeaway

Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

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. Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 200-301 questions on access control and AAA configuration.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 200-301 question test?

Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — This question tests Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — Authentication checks who the user is..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Enter interface configuration mode for the down interface and issue the 'no shutdown' command. — The interface is administratively down because the 'shutdown' command is present. The line protocol is down because the interface is disabled. To fix this, you must issue the 'no shutdown' command on the interface. After that, the interface will come up, and the line protocol will become up if the other side is properly configured.

What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?

Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 200-301 questions on access control and AAA configuration.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Authentication checks who the user is.

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Last reviewed: Jun 6, 2026

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