- A
MTU mismatch between VPCs
Why wrong: MTU mismatch causes fragmentation but not asymmetric routing.
- B
BGP session flaps on Cloud Router
Why wrong: BGP flaps affect dynamic routes, but VPC peering uses static routes, not BGP.
- C
Overlapping CIDR ranges in the peered VPCs
Overlapping CIDRs can cause asymmetric routing because a more specific route may not be present, leading to different paths.
- D
Firewall rules blocking ICMP
Why wrong: ICMP blocking would drop ping but not necessarily asymmetric routing of TCP traffic.
Question 332 of 1,000
PCNE Practice Question: Managing, Monitoring, and Optimising Network Operations
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of managing, monitoring, and optimising network operations. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 network engineer notices asymmetric routing between two VPCs connected via VPC peering. Traffic from VPC A to VPC B flows correctly, but return traffic from VPC B to VPC A drops. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
Overlapping CIDR ranges in the peered VPCs
Asymmetric routing in VPC peering often occurs when VPCs have overlapping CIDR ranges or when one VPC has a default route that points to another peering, causing the return traffic to take a different path that may be blocked by firewall rules or not have a route.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
MTU mismatch between VPCs
Why it's wrong here
MTU mismatch causes fragmentation but not asymmetric routing.
- ✗
BGP session flaps on Cloud Router
Why it's wrong here
BGP flaps affect dynamic routes, but VPC peering uses static routes, not BGP.
- ✓
Overlapping CIDR ranges in the peered VPCs
Why this is correct
Overlapping CIDRs can cause asymmetric routing because a more specific route may not be present, leading to different paths.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- ✗
Firewall rules blocking ICMP
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Asymmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Exchange | Signatures | Equivalent Security Key | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSA-3072 | Yes | Yes | 128-bit | Widely deployed; slow for bulk data |
| ECDSA P-256 | No | Yes | 128-bit | Fast signatures; standard TLS certs |
| ECDH / ECDHE | Yes | No | 128-bit | Perfect forward secrecy in TLS 1.3 |
| DH / DHE | Yes | No | 128-bit (3072-bit key) | Replaced by ECDHE in modern TLS |
| Ed25519 | No | Yes | ~128-bit | SSH keys, modern PKI |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related PCNE subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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Managing, Monitoring, and Optimising Network Operations — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNE question test?
Managing, Monitoring, and Optimising Network Operations — This question tests Managing, Monitoring, and Optimising Network Operations — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Overlapping CIDR ranges in the peered VPCs — Asymmetric routing in VPC peering often occurs when VPCs have overlapping CIDR ranges or when one VPC has a default route that points to another peering, causing the return traffic to take a different path that may be blocked by firewall rules or not have a route.
What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related PCNE subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCNE practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud 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 PCNE exam.
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