VCP-DCV Configure and Manage vSphere Networking Practice Question
An administrator is troubleshooting an issue where a VM on a vSphere Distributed Switch cannot receive traffic from outside its subnet. The VM can send traffic out and receive replies from hosts on the same subnet. The default gateway is configured correctly. What is the most likely cause?
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 router does not have a route back to the VM's subnet.
The VM can send traffic out and receive replies from hosts on the same subnet, indicating that its network configuration and the switch are functioning correctly. However, traffic from outside the subnet is not reaching the VM. This typically occurs when the router that connects the subnets does not have a route back to the VM's subnet. Even though the VM's default gateway is correctly configured, the router must know how to reach the VM's subnet to forward return traffic. Option A is incorrect because the VTEP IP is used for VXLAN overlay networks, not for standard IP routing. Option B is incorrect because the ESXi host's default gateway is for host management traffic and does not affect VM traffic. Option D is incorrect because a VLAN ID mismatch between the port group and the physical switch would cause issues with all traffic, including same-subnet communication.
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 VXLAN Tunnel Endpoint (VTEP) IP is not reachable from the remote subnet.
Why it's wrong here
VTEPs are used for network virtualization overlay; they are not involved in standard routing unless using NSX.
- ✗
The ESXi host's default gateway is misconfigured.
Why it's wrong here
The host's gateway affects host management traffic, not VM traffic. VM traffic uses the VM's configured gateway.
- ✓
The router does not have a route back to the VM's subnet.
Why this is correct
If the upstream router lacks a return route, packets destined to the VM are dropped, causing asymmetric routing where outbound succeeds but inbound fails.
- ✗
The port group VLAN ID is different from the physical switch trunk allowed VLAN.
Why it's wrong here
VLAN mismatch would typically cause communication failures within the same subnet as well, not selectively.
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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.