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200-901 Practice Question: Is troubleshooting an issue where hosts in VLAN…
A network engineer is troubleshooting an issue where hosts in VLAN 100 cannot reach a server at 10.1.1.100. The switch interfaces are configured as access ports in VLAN 100, and the default gateway is 10.1.1.1. The engineer checks the switch and finds that the ARP table does not contain the server's MAC address. Which two actions should the engineer take to resolve the issue? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between the MAC address table (Layer 2 forwarding) and the ARP table (Layer 3 resolution), leading candidates to incorrectly choose checking the MAC address table when the real issue is VLAN membership affecting ARP propagation.
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
✓
Check the ARP table on the default gateway router.
If the switch port connected to the server is not in VLAN 100, the server will be in a different broadcast domain and will not receive ARP requests from hosts in VLAN 100. This would cause the ARP table on the switch to lack the server's MAC address, as the switch cannot learn it through normal Layer 2 flooding within the VLAN.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ping the server's IP address from the switch management interface.
Why it's wrong here
The switch management interface may be in a different VLAN, so this does not test the specific VLAN 100 path.
- ✗
Ping the default gateway from a host in VLAN 100.
Why it's wrong here
This checks Layer 3 connectivity but does not directly address the missing ARP entry for the server.
- ✓
Check the ARP table on the default gateway router.
Why this is correct
The hosts need to resolve the server's MAC, not the gateway's. The issue is on the switch or host side.
- ✗
Check the MAC address table on the switch for the server's MAC.
Why it's wrong here
The MAC address table shows Layer 2 paths, but the issue is ARP resolution which is Layer 3.
- ✓
Verify that the switch port connected to the server is in VLAN 100.
Why this is correct
If the server is on an access port in a different VLAN, the hosts in VLAN 100 cannot reach it.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-901 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 200-901 exam.