Question 315 of 521

Configure and Manage vSphere Networking →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

MTU Mismatch After Adding Host to vDS

This VCP-DCV practice question tests your understanding of configure and manage vsphere 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 vSphere administrator notices that after adding a new ESXi host to a vSphere Distributed Switch (vDS), some VMs on existing hosts lose network connectivity intermittently. 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.

A
The vDS MTU setting does not match the physical network MTU.
If the vDS uses jumbo frames (MTU 9000) but the physical switch or new host has MTU 1500, large packets may be fragmented or dropped, causing intermittent connectivity.
B
The new host's physical uplink is faulty, causing broadcast storms.
Why wrong: A faulty uplink would likely cause loss for VMs on that host, not on other hosts.
C
The vDS is configured with LACP, and the new host's links are not properly bundled.
Why wrong: Misconfigured LACP would affect the new host primarily, not intermittent loss on existing hosts.
D
The vDS Network I/O Control settings are not evenly distributed.
Why wrong: NIOC affects performance under contention, not connectivity.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 vDS MTU setting does not match the physical network MTU.

Option A is correct. When a new ESXi host is added to a vDS with a different MTU setting than the physical network, packets may be silently dropped or fragmented, causing intermittent connectivity loss for VMs on existing hosts. This is because the vDS MTU must match the physical network MTU to avoid issues. Option B is incorrect because a faulty physical uplink would affect only VMs on that specific host, not VMs on other existing hosts. Option C is incorrect because LACP misconfiguration would typically cause issues with the new host's connectivity, not intermittent connectivity for VMs on hosts already in the vDS. Option D is incorrect because Network I/O Control regulates bandwidth allocation and does not cause connectivity loss; such issues would manifest as performance degradation rather than intermittent loss.

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.

✓
The vDS MTU setting does not match the physical network MTU.
Why this is correct
If the vDS uses jumbo frames (MTU 9000) but the physical switch or new host has MTU 1500, large packets may be fragmented or dropped, causing intermittent connectivity.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
✗
The new host's physical uplink is faulty, causing broadcast storms.
Why it's wrong here
A faulty uplink would likely cause loss for VMs on that host, not on other hosts.
✗
The vDS is configured with LACP, and the new host's links are not properly bundled.
Why it's wrong here
Misconfigured LACP would affect the new host primarily, not intermittent loss on existing hosts.
✗
The vDS Network I/O Control settings are not evenly distributed.
Why it's wrong here
NIOC affects performance under contention, not connectivity.

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 network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.

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 VCP-DCV subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.

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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 — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The vDS MTU setting does not match the physical network MTU. — Option A is correct. When a new ESXi host is added to a vDS with a different MTU setting than the physical network, packets may be silently dropped or fragmented, causing intermittent connectivity loss for VMs on existing hosts. This is because the vDS MTU must match the physical network MTU to avoid issues. Option B is incorrect because a faulty physical uplink would affect only VMs on that specific host, not VMs on other existing hosts. Option C is incorrect because LACP misconfiguration would typically cause issues with the new host's connectivity, not intermittent connectivity for VMs on hosts already in the vDS. Option D is incorrect because Network I/O Control regulates bandwidth allocation and does not cause connectivity loss; such issues would manifest as performance degradation rather than intermittent loss.

What should I do if I get this VCP-DCV question wrong?

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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