VCP-DCV Configure and Manage vSphere Networking Practice Question
A VM on a vSphere Distributed Switch is unable to receive traffic from external networks. The VM can send traffic out successfully. The VM port group has no security policies set (default). The physical switch port is configured as an access port on VLAN 100. The VM port group VLAN is set to 100. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often focus on VLAN configuration or switch port modes when the symptom is unidirectional traffic, but the real issue is a routing misconfiguration at the VM's default gateway, which is a common oversight in vSphere networking troubleshooting.
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
✓
The VM is using a different default gateway than the VMkernel interface
The VM can send traffic out successfully but cannot receive traffic from external networks, which indicates a routing issue rather than a switching or VLAN problem. The most likely cause is that the VM's default gateway is set to the VMkernel interface's IP address instead of the physical network's gateway, causing return traffic to be misrouted. This is a common misconfiguration where the VM's default gateway does not match the subnet's gateway, preventing inbound traffic from reaching the VM.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
VLAN mismatch between VM port group and physical switch
Why it's wrong here
VLANs match.
- ✗
The VM's NIC is in promiscuous mode
Why it's wrong here
Promiscuous mode would not prevent incoming traffic.
- ✓
The VM is using a different default gateway than the VMkernel interface
Why this is correct
Asymmetric routing can cause one-way traffic.
- ✗
The physical switch port is configured as an access port instead of a trunk
Why it's wrong here
Access port is correct for a single VLAN.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This VCP-DCV practice question is part of Courseiva's free VMware 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 VCP-DCV exam.