CCNA Network Services and Security Practice Question
Which protocol is used to resolve a hostname such as www.example.com into an IP address?
⚠ Common exam trap
A frequent exam trap is mistaking DHCP for DNS because both protocols are essential IP services and often appear together in network configurations. Candidates may incorrectly select DHCP, thinking it resolves hostnames, but DHCP only assigns IP addresses and network parameters, not name resolution. Another trap is confusing NTP or SNMP with DNS due to their roles in network operations; however, NTP synchronizes time and SNMP manages devices, neither resolving hostnames. Understanding that DNS specifically maps domain names to IP addresses prevents this common mistake.
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
✓
DNS
DNS resolves names to addresses. DHCP hands out addressing parameters, NTP synchronizes time, and SNMP is used for management and monitoring.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
DNS
Why this is correct
DNS (Domain Name System) is the hierarchical distributed database that resolves human-readable hostnames like www.example.com to numerical IP addresses. It uses recursive and iterative queries across root, TLD, and authoritative name servers to return the correct address. DNS is the standard protocol specifically designed for hostname-to-IP resolution.
- ✗
DHCP
Why it's wrong here
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) automatically assigns IP addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, and other network parameters to clients. It does not perform name resolution, as its scope is limited to address provisioning and lease management. Therefore, DHCP cannot resolve a hostname like www.example.com to an IP address.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking which protocol automatically assigns IP addresses to hosts on a network, such as 'Which protocol is used to dynamically assign an IP address to a client?' would have DHCP as the correct answer.
- ✗
NTP
Why it's wrong here
NTP (Network Time Protocol) synchronizes clocks across network devices to a common time source, such as an atomic clock or GPS. It is critical for accurate logging and authentication timestamps, but it has no mechanism for mapping hostnames to IP addresses. NTP packets carry time references, not name resolution queries, so it cannot resolve www.example.com.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question asking which protocol synchronizes time across network devices, NTP would be the correct answer. For example: 'Which protocol ensures consistent timestamps on logs from routers and switches?'
- ✗
SNMP
Why it's wrong here
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is used by network management systems to collect status, performance, and configuration data from devices via MIBs (Management Information Bases). It also sends traps for alerting, but its operation over UDP ports 161/162 is unrelated to name resolution. SNMP does not resolve hostnames; that function is exclusively handled by DNS.
When this WOULD be correct
SNMP would be correct in a question like: 'Which protocol is used to monitor and manage network devices, such as routers and switches, by collecting and organizing information about their performance?'
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.
✓DNSCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
DNS (Domain Name System) is the hierarchical distributed database that resolves human-readable hostnames like www.example.com to numerical IP addresses. It uses recursive and iterative queries across root, TLD, and authoritative name servers to return the correct address. DNS is the standard protocol specifically designed for hostname-to-IP resolution.
✗DHCPWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DHCP is used to dynamically assign IP addresses and other network configuration parameters to devices, not to resolve hostnames to IP addresses.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking which protocol automatically assigns IP addresses to hosts on a network, such as 'Which protocol is used to dynamically assign an IP address to a client?' would have DHCP as the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse DHCP with DNS because both involve IP addresses; DHCP assigns them, while DNS resolves names to them.
✗NTPWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
NTP (Network Time Protocol) is used to synchronize clocks between computer systems over a network, not to resolve hostnames to IP addresses.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question asking which protocol synchronizes time across network devices, NTP would be the correct answer. For example: 'Which protocol ensures consistent timestamps on logs from routers and switches?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse NTP with DNS because both involve network services and the acronyms are similar, or they might think time synchronization is needed for name resolution.
✗SNMPWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
SNMP is used for network management and monitoring, not for resolving hostnames to IP addresses. The question specifically asks about hostname resolution, which is a function of DNS.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
SNMP would be correct in a question like: 'Which protocol is used to monitor and manage network devices, such as routers and switches, by collecting and organizing information about their performance?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse SNMP with DNS because both are network protocols, or they might think SNMP can resolve names due to its role in network management systems that often include name resolution features.
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?”
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Key term
Fully Qualified Domain Name
A Fully Qualified Domain Name is the complete and unambiguous website or server name that includes the host, domain, and top-level domain, leaving no room for guesswork.
Key term
SNMP
A network protocol used to collect and organize information about managed devices on IP networks and to modify that information to change device behavior.
About these practice questions
This 200-301 question is part of Courseiva's 1,389-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.