200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure and automation. 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 NVRAM up up
GigabitEthernet0/1 unassigned YES unset administratively down down
GigabitEthernet0/2 10.10.10.1 YES manual up up
Based on the exhibit, which interface is in a state that prevents it from sending or receiving IP traffic?
Refer to the exhibit.
Router# show ip interface brief
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
GigabitEthernet0/0 192.168.1.1 YES NVRAM up up
GigabitEthernet0/1 unassigned YES unset administratively down down
GigabitEthernet0/2 10.10.10.1 YES manual up up
A
GigabitEthernet0/2
Why wrong: It is up/up.
B
GigabitEthernet0/0
Why wrong: It is up/up.
C
GigabitEthernet0/1
It is administratively down, so no traffic can pass.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
GigabitEthernet0/1
Interface GigabitEthernet0/1 is in the 'administratively down' state, as indicated by the 'down' status in the 'Status' column and the 'down' in the 'Protocol' column. This means the interface has been manually disabled with the 'shutdown' command, preventing it from sending or receiving any IP traffic. In contrast, interfaces that are 'up/up' can forward traffic, while 'up/down' indicates a Layer 1 issue but still allows Layer 2 control plane traffic.
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.
✗
GigabitEthernet0/2
Why it's wrong here
It is up/up.
✗
GigabitEthernet0/0
Why it's wrong here
It is up/up.
✓
GigabitEthernet0/1
Why this is correct
It is administratively down, so no traffic can pass.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
None of the interfaces are down
Why it's wrong here
GigabitEthernet0/1 is down.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'administratively down' (Status: down) and 'up/down' (Status: up, Protocol: down), where candidates mistakenly assume any 'down' protocol means no IP traffic is possible, but only the administratively down state explicitly prevents all traffic due to manual shutdown.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'administratively down' state is triggered by the 'shutdown' command under interface configuration mode, which places the interface in a disabled state where no packets are processed, even if the physical medium is connected. This is distinct from 'up/down' (Layer 1 up, Layer 2 protocol down) which often results from a mismatch in encapsulation (e.g., HDLC vs PPP) or a keepalive failure. In production networks, an administratively down interface is commonly used for maintenance or security isolation, and it can be verified with 'show interfaces' or 'show ip interface brief'.
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.
Infrastructure and Automation — This question tests Infrastructure and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: GigabitEthernet0/1 — Interface GigabitEthernet0/1 is in the 'administratively down' state, as indicated by the 'down' status in the 'Status' column and the 'down' in the 'Protocol' column. This means the interface has been manually disabled with the 'shutdown' command, preventing it from sending or receiving any IP traffic. In contrast, interfaces that are 'up/up' can forward traffic, while 'up/down' indicates a Layer 1 issue but still allows Layer 2 control plane traffic.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.