200-901 Network Fundamentals Practice Question
During a TCP three-way handshake, which sequence of flags is sent from the client to initiate the connection?
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
✓
SYN
The client sends a SYN segment to start the handshake.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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SYN-ACK
Why it's wrong here
SYN-ACK is the server's reply to the client's initial SYN, acknowledging it and synchronising sequence numbers in return. The client opens with SYN alone. SYN-ACK would be the observed flag when analysing the second handshake segment travelling from server back to client.
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SYN
Why this is correct
The client begins the three-way handshake by transmitting a single TCP segment with the SYN flag set, carrying its initial sequence number. This synchronises sequence numbers and requests a connection before the server replies with SYN-ACK. Only after the client's final ACK does the connection become established, satisfying the initiation requirement.
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ACK
Why it's wrong here
A bare ACK is the third handshake segment, sent by the client to confirm the server's SYN-ACK once sequence numbers are synchronised. It cannot initiate a connection. ACK alone appears when acknowledging established data, not when opening a new TCP session.
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FIN
Why it's wrong here
FIN requests graceful termination of an established TCP connection after data transfer completes; it carries no synchronisation semantics. The client initiates with SYN to propose initial sequence numbers. FIN would be correct when describing how either endpoint begins closing a session, not opening one.
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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.