Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Which statement best describes the role of DNS in a network?
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
Best answer
DNS resolves names into IP-related information
This is correct because DNS provides name-resolution services.
B
Distractor review
DNS dynamically assigns client IP addresses
This is wrong because DHCP assigns addresses, not DNS.
C
Distractor review
DNS prevents switching loops on VLAN trunks
This is wrong because switching-loop prevention is handled by STP, not DNS.
D
Distractor review
DNS is the default metric used by OSPF
This is wrong because DNS has nothing to do with OSPF metrics.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is mistaking DNS for DHCP or routing protocols like OSPF. Candidates often confuse DNS with DHCP because both involve IP addresses, but DHCP dynamically assigns IP addresses to clients, whereas DNS resolves domain names to IP addresses. Similarly, DNS is unrelated to routing metrics or loop prevention, which are functions of protocols like OSPF or STP. This confusion can lead to selecting incorrect answers that describe DHCP or routing functions instead of DNS’s actual role in name resolution.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
The Domain Name System (DNS) is a fundamental IP service that translates human-friendly domain names into IP addresses, enabling devices to locate and communicate with each other on a network. DNS operates as a distributed hierarchical database, where queries are resolved through a series of DNS servers until the requested IP address is found. This name resolution process is essential because users and applications typically use domain names rather than numeric IP addresses to access resources. In Cisco networking and the CCNA context, DNS is critical for simplifying network management and user experience. When a device needs to connect to a server or service, it sends a DNS query to a configured DNS server, which responds with the corresponding IP address. This process allows seamless connectivity without requiring users to memorize complex IP addresses. Unlike DHCP, which dynamically assigns IP addresses, DNS strictly resolves names to IP-related information and does not handle address allocation or routing metrics. A common exam trap is confusing DNS with other network services like DHCP or routing protocols such as OSPF. DNS does not assign IP addresses or influence routing decisions; it solely provides name resolution. Misunderstanding this can lead to incorrect answers about network services roles. Practically, DNS failures can cause network access issues even when IP connectivity exists, highlighting its importance in troubleshooting and network design.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- DNS resolves human-readable domain names into IP addresses to enable devices to locate network resources efficiently.
- DNS operates as a distributed hierarchical system where queries are forwarded between DNS servers until the IP address is found.
- DNS does not assign IP addresses; that role belongs to DHCP, which dynamically allocates addresses to clients.
- DNS is unrelated to routing protocols like OSPF and does not influence routing metrics or path selection.
- DNS does not prevent switching loops; that function is performed by protocols such as Spanning Tree Protocol (STP).
- Network devices rely on DNS to translate hostnames into IP addresses, making network access user-friendly and manageable.
- DNS failures can cause connectivity issues even when basic IP routing is functional, highlighting its importance in troubleshooting.
- Understanding the distinct roles of DNS, DHCP, and routing protocols is essential to avoid common exam mistakes.
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.
Related practice questions
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Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
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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 resolves human-readable domain names into IP addresses to enable devices to locate network resources efficiently.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DNS resolves names into IP-related information — DNS helps devices and users resolve names into IP-related information. In plain language, it means people can use easy-to-remember hostnames instead of typing numeric IP addresses every time they want to reach a server or service. This makes networks more usable and easier to manage, especially when addresses change but names remain stable. DNS does not assign addresses the way DHCP does, and it does not synchronize time like NTP. It also is not a routing protocol. Its job is name resolution. That is a fundamental service concept and a very common CCNA test point because many practical network symptoms can be traced back to name-resolution failures even when basic IP connectivity still works.
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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