200-901 Cisco Platforms and Development Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of cisco platforms and development. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Router# show ip interface brief
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
GigabitEthernet0/0 192.168.1.1 YES manual up up
GigabitEthernet0/1 10.10.10.1 YES manual down down
GigabitEthernet0/2 unassigned YES unset administratively down down
Based on the exhibit, which interface is in a down/down state (both Status and Protocol are down)?
Refer to the exhibit.
Router# show ip interface brief
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
GigabitEthernet0/0 192.168.1.1 YES manual up up
GigabitEthernet0/1 10.10.10.1 YES manual down down
GigabitEthernet0/2 unassigned YES unset administratively down down
A
None
Why wrong: Gig0/1 meets the criteria.
B
GigabitEthernet0/2
Why wrong: Gig0/2 is administratively down, not down/down.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
GigabitEthernet0/1
Option D is correct because the exhibit shows that GigabitEthernet0/1 has both Status and Protocol listed as 'down'. In Cisco IOS, the 'Status' column indicates the line protocol state (Layer 1), and the 'Protocol' column indicates the data link layer state (Layer 2). When both are 'down', the interface is administratively down or has a physical layer issue, such as a disconnected cable or a shutdown command.
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.
✗
None
Why it's wrong here
Gig0/1 meets the criteria.
✗
GigabitEthernet0/2
Why it's wrong here
Gig0/2 is administratively down, not down/down.
✗
GigabitEthernet0/0
Why it's wrong here
Gig0/0 is up/up.
✓
GigabitEthernet0/1
Why this is correct
Gig0/1 shows Status down and Protocol down.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the ability to read the 'show interfaces' output correctly, where candidates may confuse the 'Status' and 'Protocol' columns or misinterpret an 'up/up' state as a problem, leading them to select a wrong interface like GigabitEthernet0/0 or GigabitEthernet0/2.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'show interfaces' command output displays the line status (Layer 1) and protocol status (Layer 2). A 'down/down' state typically results from a missing carrier signal (e.g., unplugged cable) or an administrative shutdown via the 'shutdown' command. In contrast, an 'up/down' state (not present here) would indicate a Layer 1 up but Layer 2 mismatch, such as a keepalive failure or encapsulation mismatch. This distinction is critical for troubleshooting connectivity issues in production networks.
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 practitioner preparing for the 200-901 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
Cisco Platforms and Development — This question tests Cisco Platforms and Development — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: GigabitEthernet0/1 — Option D is correct because the exhibit shows that GigabitEthernet0/1 has both Status and Protocol listed as 'down'. In Cisco IOS, the 'Status' column indicates the line protocol state (Layer 1), and the 'Protocol' column indicates the data link layer state (Layer 2). When both are 'down', the interface is administratively down or has a physical layer issue, such as a disconnected cable or a shutdown command.
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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