- A
/27, because 32 total addresses are enough for a small workload subnet.
Why wrong: A /27 provides only 32 total addresses, which leaves 27 usable addresses after Azure reservations. That is far below the 50 assignable addresses required here.
- B
/26, because 64 total addresses provide enough usable IPs for the workload and growth.
A /26 contains 64 total addresses. After Azure reserves 5, 59 remain usable, which covers 41 VM NICs, 2 load balancer frontend IPs, 3 private endpoint IPs, and 4 spare addresses. This is the smallest subnet size that meets the stated requirement without wasting a larger block than necessary.
- C
/25, because 128 total addresses are required once private endpoints are included.
Why wrong: A /25 would work, but it is not the smallest valid choice. It provides far more usable addresses than the scenario requires, making it unnecessarily large.
- D
/28, because 16 total addresses are sufficient when load balancers are used.
Why wrong: A /28 provides only 16 total addresses, leaving 11 usable after Azure reservations. That cannot support the requested number of NICs, frontend IPs, private endpoints, and growth.
Quick Answer
The answer is /26, because 64 total addresses provide enough usable IPs for the workload and growth. This is correct because the total IP requirement is 41 VM NICs, 2 internal load balancer frontend IPs, 3 private endpoint IPs, 4 spare IPs, plus the 5 Azure reserved addresses, summing to 55 IPs. A /26 subnet offers 64 total addresses, with 59 usable after the 5 reserved, comfortably exceeding the need. On the AZ-104 exam, this tests your understanding of subnet sizing for mixed workloads, including the often-overlooked fact that Azure reserves five IPs in every subnet—a common trap where candidates forget to add those reserved addresses. A key memory tip is to always add 5 to your total required IPs before choosing the smallest subnet; for quick reference, /26 is the go-to for any workload needing roughly 40–50 usable addresses, while /27 (32 total) would fall short.
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Virtual Networking Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage virtual networking. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 team is creating a new workload subnet in a spoke virtual network. The subnet must support 41 VM NICs, 2 internal load balancer frontend IP configurations, 3 private endpoint IPs, and 4 spare IPs for near-term growth. Azure reserves 5 IP addresses in every subnet. What is the smallest IPv4 subnet size that satisfies the requirement?
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
/26, because 64 total addresses provide enough usable IPs for the workload and growth.
The total IP addresses required are 41 (VM NICs) + 2 (ILB frontends) + 3 (private endpoints) + 4 (spare) + 5 (Azure reserved) = 55 IPs. A /26 subnet provides 64 total addresses, of which 59 are usable (64 - 5 reserved), which meets the requirement. Option B is correct because /26 is the smallest subnet that provides enough usable IPs.
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.
- ✗
/27, because 32 total addresses are enough for a small workload subnet.
Why it's wrong here
A /27 provides only 32 total addresses, which leaves 27 usable addresses after Azure reservations. That is far below the 50 assignable addresses required here.
- ✓
/26, because 64 total addresses provide enough usable IPs for the workload and growth.
Why this is correct
A /26 contains 64 total addresses. After Azure reserves 5, 59 remain usable, which covers 41 VM NICs, 2 load balancer frontend IPs, 3 private endpoint IPs, and 4 spare addresses. This is the smallest subnet size that meets the stated requirement without wasting a larger block than necessary.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
/25, because 128 total addresses are required once private endpoints are included.
Why it's wrong here
A /25 would work, but it is not the smallest valid choice. It provides far more usable addresses than the scenario requires, making it unnecessarily large.
- ✗
/28, because 16 total addresses are sufficient when load balancers are used.
Why it's wrong here
A /28 provides only 16 total addresses, leaving 11 usable after Azure reservations. That cannot support the requested number of NICs, frontend IPs, private endpoints, and growth.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often forget to include the 5 Azure-reserved IPs in their calculation, or they mistakenly think private endpoints or load balancer frontends do not consume subnet IPs, leading them to choose a smaller subnet like /27 or /28.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
A /25 would work, but it is not the smallest valid choice. It provides far more usable addresses than the scenario requires, making it unnecessarily large.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure reserves the first four and last IP address in every subnet for protocol operations (e.g., network address, broadcast, default gateway, DNS, and future use). Private endpoints and internal load balancers consume IP addresses from the subnet, and each frontend IP configuration for a load balancer requires a separate IP. In real-world scenarios, underestimating growth or reserved addresses can lead to subnet exhaustion and reconfiguration.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Implement and Manage Virtual Networking — This question tests Implement and Manage Virtual Networking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: /26, because 64 total addresses provide enough usable IPs for the workload and growth. — The total IP addresses required are 41 (VM NICs) + 2 (ILB frontends) + 3 (private endpoints) + 4 (spare) + 5 (Azure reserved) = 55 IPs. A /26 subnet provides 64 total addresses, of which 59 are usable (64 - 5 reserved), which meets the requirement. Option B is correct because /26 is the smallest subnet that provides enough usable IPs.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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