Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Users can reach a server by IP address but not by hostname. Which service should be checked first?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
NTP
NTP handles time synchronization, not hostname resolution.
B
Best answer
DNS
Correct. This symptom strongly suggests a DNS issue.
C
Distractor review
QoS
QoS is unrelated to name resolution.
D
Distractor review
HSRP
Gateway redundancy is not the primary issue here.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common exam trap is selecting NTP, QoS, or HSRP as the cause when users cannot reach a server by hostname. NTP synchronizes time and does not affect name resolution. QoS prioritizes traffic but does not translate hostnames to IP addresses. HSRP provides gateway redundancy and does not influence DNS functionality. Choosing any of these distractors wastes time and leads to incorrect troubleshooting. The key is to recognize that hostname resolution depends solely on DNS, so DNS must be the first service checked when IP connectivity exists but hostname access fails.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Domain Name System (DNS) is a critical IP service that translates human-readable hostnames into IP addresses, enabling users and devices to locate servers and resources on a network. Without DNS, users must know the exact IP address to reach a server, which is impractical in dynamic or large networks. Cisco devices rely on DNS to resolve names for management, troubleshooting, and application access, making DNS a foundational service in IP networking. When users can reach a server by IP address but not by hostname, the issue typically lies in DNS resolution failure. This means the client device or network device cannot translate the hostname into the corresponding IP address. Troubleshooting involves verifying DNS server configuration, ensuring the DNS server is reachable, and confirming that the DNS records for the hostname exist and are correct. Cisco IOS commands like 'show hosts' and 'ping' by hostname help diagnose DNS issues. A common exam trap is confusing DNS with other IP services like NTP, QoS, or HSRP, which do not handle hostname resolution. For example, NTP synchronizes time, QoS manages traffic priority, and HSRP provides gateway redundancy. Misidentifying the service leads to wasted troubleshooting effort. Practically, ensuring DNS is operational and correctly configured is essential for network usability and name-based communication, especially in enterprise environments where hostnames are preferred over IP addresses.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- DNS translates hostnames into IP addresses, enabling users to access servers without memorizing numeric IPs.
- Cisco devices use DNS to resolve names for network management, application access, and troubleshooting.
- If users can reach a server by IP but not hostname, DNS resolution failure is the primary cause to investigate.
- Troubleshooting DNS issues involves verifying DNS server reachability, correct DNS records, and client DNS settings.
- NTP handles time synchronization and does not affect hostname resolution or server reachability by name.
- QoS manages traffic prioritization and does not influence DNS or hostname resolution processes.
- HSRP provides gateway redundancy and does not impact DNS or the ability to resolve hostnames.
- Exam questions about hostname reachability often test understanding of DNS as the key IP service for 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
DNS translates hostnames into IP addresses, enabling users to access servers without memorizing numeric IPs.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DNS — If the server is reachable by IP but not by name, the likely issue is name resolution, which points to DNS.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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