This CV0-004 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting. 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 company uses a hybrid cloud model with an AWS Direct Connect connection to its on-premises network. Users report intermittent connectivity to cloud resources. A network engineer finds packet loss on the Direct Connect virtual interface. Which of the following should be checked FIRST to resolve the issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The BGP session status between the on-premises router and the AWS Direct Connect endpoint
Intermittent packet loss on a Direct Connect virtual interface is most commonly caused by BGP session flapping or misconfiguration, as BGP is the routing protocol that establishes and maintains connectivity between the on-premises router and the AWS Direct Connect endpoint. Checking the BGP session status first allows the engineer to quickly identify if the issue is due to route advertisement problems, hold timer mismatches, or session resets, which are frequent root causes of intermittent packet loss.
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.
✗
The physical port status of the Direct Connect router
Why it's wrong here
Physical port issues would cause complete failure, not intermittent loss.
✗
The MTU setting on the on-premises firewall
Why it's wrong here
MTU issues typically cause dropped packets for large frames, not general intermittent loss.
✓
The BGP session status between the on-premises router and the AWS Direct Connect endpoint
Why this is correct
BGP flapping can cause intermittent packet loss and connectivity issues.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The VPN tunnel status for the Direct Connect link
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect does not use a VPN tunnel; it's a dedicated connection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Direct Connect with VPN-based connections and assume a VPN tunnel is involved, leading them to check VPN status (Option D) instead of the BGP session that actually governs the virtual interface routing.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
BGP session status can be verified using commands like 'show ip bgp summary' on the on-premises router or checking the AWS Direct Connect console for BGP state (e.g., Established, Active, Idle). Intermittent packet loss often stems from BGP hold timer expiration due to high latency or jitter on the Direct Connect link, causing the session to reset and temporarily drop routes; this is especially common when the link is oversubscribed or has degraded optical signal. In real-world scenarios, engineers should also check for BGP route flapping caused by incorrect AS_PATH prepending or prefix limits.
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 CV0-004 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.
Troubleshooting — This question tests Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The BGP session status between the on-premises router and the AWS Direct Connect endpoint — Intermittent packet loss on a Direct Connect virtual interface is most commonly caused by BGP session flapping or misconfiguration, as BGP is the routing protocol that establishes and maintains connectivity between the on-premises router and the AWS Direct Connect endpoint. Checking the BGP session status first allows the engineer to quickly identify if the issue is due to route advertisement problems, hold timer mismatches, or session resets, which are frequent root causes of intermittent packet loss.
What should I do if I get this CV0-004 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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