- A
The VXLAN Tunnel Endpoint (VTEP) IP is not reachable from the remote subnet.
Why wrong: VTEPs are used for network virtualization overlay; they are not involved in standard routing unless using NSX.
- B
The ESXi host's default gateway is misconfigured.
Why wrong: The host's gateway affects host management traffic, not VM traffic. VM traffic uses the VM's configured gateway.
- C
The router does not have a route back to the VM's subnet.
If the upstream router lacks a return route, packets destined to the VM are dropped, causing asymmetric routing where outbound succeeds but inbound fails.
- D
The port group VLAN ID is different from the physical switch trunk allowed VLAN.
Why wrong: VLAN mismatch would typically cause communication failures within the same subnet as well, not selectively.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the router does not have a route back to the VM's subnet. This is the most likely cause because when a VM sends traffic to a different subnet, the physical router must know how to return packets to that VM’s network; without a return route, the router drops the reply traffic, even though the VM can send outbound packets and communicate within its own subnet. On the VMware Certified Professional Data Center Virtualization VCP-DCV exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Layer 3 routing fundamentals versus common vSphere misconfigurations—many candidates mistakenly blame the ESXi host’s management gateway or VLAN mismatches, but those would break same-subnet traffic or are unrelated to cross-subnet routing. A useful memory tip: “Outbound works, inbound fails? Check the router’s return path, not the switch.”
VCP-DCV Configure and Manage vSphere Networking Practice Question
This VCP-DCV practice question tests your understanding of configure and manage vsphere networking. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
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?
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
The router does not have a route back to the VM's subnet.
Option B is correct because if the route is missing on the physical router back to the VM's subnet, the router drops return traffic. This is a common routing misconfiguration. Option A is incorrect because the default gateway is the VM's gateway; the ESXi host's management gateway is unrelated. Option C is incorrect because the VTEP IP is for VXLAN, not regular routing. Option D is incorrect because a port group VLAN mismatch would cause issues with same-subnet communication as well.
Key principle: A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
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.
- ✓
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.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- ✗
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
- Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
- Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
- Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
- Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
- Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
Key takeaway
A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related VCP-DCV questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
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Configure and Manage vSphere Networking — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this VCP-DCV question test?
Configure and Manage vSphere Networking — This question tests Configure and Manage vSphere Networking — Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The router does not have a route back to the VM's subnet. — Option B is correct because if the route is missing on the physical router back to the VM's subnet, the router drops return traffic. This is a common routing misconfiguration. Option A is incorrect because the default gateway is the VM's gateway; the ESXi host's management gateway is unrelated. Option C is incorrect because the VTEP IP is for VXLAN, not regular routing. Option D is incorrect because a port group VLAN mismatch would cause issues with same-subnet communication as well.
What should I do if I get this VCP-DCV question wrong?
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related VCP-DCV questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
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?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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