This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of network fundamentals. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A network technician runs the command 'ping 8.8.8.8' from a workstation and receives 'Reply from 192.168.1.1: Destination host unreachable.' What does this indicate?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
There is a routing issue beyond the local network.
The 'Reply from 192.168.1.1: Destination host unreachable' message indicates that the local router (192.168.1.1) received the ICMP echo request for 8.8.8.8 but could not find a route to that destination in its routing table. This means the router has a valid path back to the workstation (so the default gateway is reachable), but it lacks a route to the remote network, pointing to a routing issue beyond the local subnet.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
There is a routing issue beyond the local network.
Why this is correct
The gateway cannot reach the destination, indicating a routing problem.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
DNS resolution is failing.
Why it's wrong here
The ping used an IP address, so DNS is not involved.
✗
The default gateway is misconfigured.
Why it's wrong here
The gateway is reachable, so it is not misconfigured.
✗
The workstation has no internet connectivity.
Why it's wrong here
It is not necessarily the workstation's fault; the gateway is responding.
✗
The remote server is down.
Why it's wrong here
The message says 'Destination host unreachable' from the gateway, which does not confirm server status.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'Destination host unreachable' (routing issue at a router) and 'Request timed out' (no response received), leading candidates to incorrectly assume the default gateway is misconfigured or that there is no connectivity at all.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a router receives an ICMP echo request and has no route to the destination, it sends an ICMP Type 3 Code 1 (Destination Host Unreachable) back to the source. This differs from a 'Request timed out' which occurs when no ICMP response is received at all, often due to packet loss or firewall filtering. In real-world scenarios, this error can also occur if a router has a default route but the next-hop router is unreachable, or if a route exists but the ARP resolution for the next hop fails.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Network Fundamentals — This question tests Network Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: There is a routing issue beyond the local network. — The 'Reply from 192.168.1.1: Destination host unreachable' message indicates that the local router (192.168.1.1) received the ICMP echo request for 8.8.8.8 but could not find a route to that destination in its routing table. This means the router has a valid path back to the workstation (so the default gateway is reachable), but it lacks a route to the remote network, pointing to a routing issue beyond the local subnet.
What should I do if I get this 200-901 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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