200-901 Network Fundamentals Practice Question
A network administrator is configuring a new subnet on a Cisco switch. The subnet uses the address 192.168.10.0/24. The administrator needs to assign an IP address to the switch's management interface so it can be reached from a remote management station on the same subnet. Which of the following IP addresses should be assigned to the switch?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is forgetting that the first and last addresses of a subnet are reserved for the network and broadcast addresses, and cannot be assigned to hosts.
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
✓
192.168.10.1
For a device to be reachable on the same subnet as a management station, it must be assigned a valid host address within that subnet. In 192.168.10.0/24, the addresses 192.168.10.0 and 192.168.10.255 are reserved as the network and broadcast addresses, respectively. Any other address, such as 192.168.10.1, is a usable host address. 192.168.11.1 is in a different subnet and would require routing.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
192.168.11.1
Why it's wrong here
192.168.11.1 belongs to the 192.168.11.0/24 subnet, not 192.168.10.0/24. Assigning this address to the switch would place it on a different logical network, requiring routing to reach the management station on 192.168.10.0/24. The requirement is for the switch to be reachable on the same subnet, so this address is incorrect.
- ✗
192.168.10.255
Why it's wrong here
192.168.10.255 is the directed broadcast address for the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet. It is used to send traffic to all hosts on the subnet and cannot be assigned to a single interface. Using it as a management address would prevent unique addressing and cause communication failures.
- ✓
192.168.10.1
Why this is correct
192.168.10.1 is a valid host address within the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet. It is commonly used as the default gateway or management address on network devices. Since it is not the network address or the broadcast address, it can be assigned to the switch's management interface and reached from other hosts on the same subnet.
- ✗
192.168.10.0
Why it's wrong here
192.168.10.0 is the network address for the subnet 192.168.10.0/24. It cannot be assigned to a host interface because it identifies the network itself. Assigning this address to a device would cause routing and ARP issues. The network address is reserved and should not be used for host or management interfaces.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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