- A
AAAA
AAAA record maps a hostname to an IPv6 address.
- B
CNAME
CNAME maps an alias hostname to the canonical (real) hostname.
- C
A
A record maps a hostname to an IPv4 address.
- D
MX
Why wrong: MX records are used for mail exchange, not hostname-to-IP mapping.
- E
PTR
Why wrong: PTR records are used for reverse DNS lookups (IP to hostname).
Question 401 of 1,000
200-901 Network Fundamentals Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of network fundamentals. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An administrator is configuring DNS records for a company's domain. Which three DNS record types are most commonly used to map hostnames to IP addresses or aliases? (Choose three.)
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
✓
AAAA
The A record maps a hostname to an IPv4 address, the AAAA record maps a hostname to an IPv6 address, and the CNAME record maps an alias hostname to the canonical (true) hostname. These three are the most common DNS record types used for hostname-to-IP or alias resolution in both IPv4 and IPv6 networks.
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.
- ✓
AAAA
Why this is correct
AAAA record maps a hostname to an IPv6 address.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
CNAME
Why this is correct
CNAME maps an alias hostname to the canonical (real) hostname.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
A
Why this is correct
A record maps a hostname to an IPv4 address.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
MX
Why it's wrong here
MX records are used for mail exchange, not hostname-to-IP mapping.
- ✗
PTR
Why it's wrong here
PTR records are used for reverse DNS lookups (IP to hostname).
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between forward-mapping records (A, AAAA, CNAME) and service-specific or reverse records (MX, PTR), leading candidates to mistakenly include MX or PTR when the question explicitly asks for hostname-to-IP or alias mapping.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, an A record stores a 32-bit IPv4 address, while an AAAA record stores a 128-bit IPv6 address. CNAME records must point to another name, not directly to an IP address, and they cannot coexist with other record types for the same name per RFC 1034. In real-world scenarios, CNAMEs are often used for CDN endpoints or cloud services, where the canonical name resolves to multiple A/AAAA records for load balancing.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Common DNS Record Types
| Record | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | IPv4 address mapping | example.com → 93.184.216.34 |
| AAAA | IPv6 address mapping | example.com → 2606:2800::1 |
| CNAME | Alias to another hostname | www → example.com |
| MX | Mail server for domain | example.com → mail.example.com (priority 10) |
| TXT | Text data (SPF, DKIM, verification) | v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all |
| NS | Authoritative name servers | example.com NS ns1.example.com |
| PTR | Reverse DNS (IP → hostname) | 34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa → example.com |
| SOA | Zone authority record | Primary NS, admin email, serial, TTL defaults |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-901 question test?
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: AAAA — The A record maps a hostname to an IPv4 address, the AAAA record maps a hostname to an IPv6 address, and the CNAME record maps an alias hostname to the canonical (true) hostname. These three are the most common DNS record types used for hostname-to-IP or alias resolution in both IPv4 and IPv6 networks.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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