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XK0-006 Practice Question: Which THREE steps should be taken when diagnosing…
Which THREE steps should be taken when diagnosing a network connectivity issue where a host cannot reach the internet but can ping the local gateway? (Select three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often assume a successful ping to the gateway proves Layer 3 routing is fully functional, but they overlook that the host may lack a default route, which is a distinct routing table entry separate from gateway reachability.
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
✓
Examine the routing table with route -n
The `route -n` command displays the kernel routing table without resolving hostnames, allowing you to verify whether a default gateway route (0.0.0.0/0) exists. If the host can ping the local gateway but not the internet, a missing or incorrect default route is a common cause, as traffic to external networks would have no path to forward.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Examine the routing table with route -n
Why this is correct
Check default route configuration.
- ✓
Review firewall rules with iptables -L
Why this is correct
Firewall may block outbound traffic.
- ✗
Check ARP cache for the gateway
Why it's wrong here
If ping works, ARP is fine.
- ✗
Run traceroute to a known external IP
Why it's wrong here
May be useful later, but DNS and routing are more fundamental.
- ✓
Check DNS resolution with nslookup
Why this is correct
DNS issues can prevent internet access.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This XK0-006 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 XK0-006 exam.