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.
Exhibit
net-dvs -l | grep -A 20 "DVS name: DSwitch"
DVS name: DSwitch
vcenter: vcenter.lab.local
uuid: 50 1a 2b 3c 4d 5e 6f 70 80 90 a0 b0 c0 d0 e0 f0
numPorts: 256
switchType: distributed
version: 7.0.0
uplinkPorts: 4
host: esxi1.lab.local (vmnic1, vmnic2)
host: esxi2.lab.local (vmnic1, vmnic2)
host: esxi3.lab.local (vmnic1, vmnic2)
host: esxi4.lab.local (vmnic1, vmnic2)
Port group: Production
VLAN: 200
Used by: VM1, VM2, VM3
Active uplinks: vmnic1, vmnic2
Standby uplinks: (none)
Load balancing: Route based on IP hash
Network failure detection: Beacon probing only
Refer to the exhibit. An administrator configured beacon probing for network failure detection on the Production port group. However, virtual machines are experiencing intermittent connectivity. What is the most likely reason?
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.
Exhibit
net-dvs -l | grep -A 20 "DVS name: DSwitch"
DVS name: DSwitch
vcenter: vcenter.lab.local
uuid: 50 1a 2b 3c 4d 5e 6f 70 80 90 a0 b0 c0 d0 e0 f0
numPorts: 256
switchType: distributed
version: 7.0.0
uplinkPorts: 4
host: esxi1.lab.local (vmnic1, vmnic2)
host: esxi2.lab.local (vmnic1, vmnic2)
host: esxi3.lab.local (vmnic1, vmnic2)
host: esxi4.lab.local (vmnic1, vmnic2)
Port group: Production
VLAN: 200
Used by: VM1, VM2, VM3
Active uplinks: vmnic1, vmnic2
Standby uplinks: (none)
Load balancing: Route based on IP hash
Network failure detection: Beacon probing only
A
There are only two uplinks, and beacon probing requires at least three uplinks.
Beacon probing needs three or more uplinks to properly detect failures. With two uplinks, it can cause flapping.
B
The VLAN ID 200 is not allowed on the physical switch trunks.
Why wrong: The exhibit does not indicate VLAN tagging issues; the problem is related to beacon probing.
C
The DVS version 7.0.0 does not support beacon probing.
Why wrong: Beacon probing is supported in vSphere 7.0.
D
The load balancing policy is set to Route based on IP hash, which is incompatible with beacon probing.
Why wrong: IP hash is compatible with beacon probing; they are independent settings.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
There are only two uplinks, and beacon probing requires at least three uplinks.
Beacon probing requires at least three uplinks to function correctly. The exhibit shows only two uplinks (vmnic1 and vmnic2) are active. With two uplinks, beacon probing cannot reliably detect failures because there are not enough beacons to determine which link is down. This can cause false positives and connectivity issues.
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.
✓
There are only two uplinks, and beacon probing requires at least three uplinks.
Why this is correct
Beacon probing needs three or more uplinks to properly detect failures. With two uplinks, it can cause flapping.
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 VLAN ID 200 is not allowed on the physical switch trunks.
Why it's wrong here
The exhibit does not indicate VLAN tagging issues; the problem is related to beacon probing.
✗
The DVS version 7.0.0 does not support beacon probing.
Why it's wrong here
Beacon probing is supported in vSphere 7.0.
✗
The load balancing policy is set to Route based on IP hash, which is incompatible with beacon probing.
Why it's wrong here
IP hash is compatible with beacon probing; they are independent settings.
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.
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: There are only two uplinks, and beacon probing requires at least three uplinks. — Beacon probing requires at least three uplinks to function correctly. The exhibit shows only two uplinks (vmnic1 and vmnic2) are active. With two uplinks, beacon probing cannot reliably detect failures because there are not enough beacons to determine which link is down. This can cause false positives and connectivity issues.
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.
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 →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.