VCP-VVF Troubleshoot And Optimize Practice Question
An administrator is investigating a network connectivity issue on an ESXi host where specific VLAN-tagged traffic is failing. The physical switch port is configured as a trunk. Which esxcli command can the administrator use to capture packets on a specific physical uplink (vmnic) to verify whether 802.1Q tags are arriving correctly?
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
✓
pktcap-uw --uplink vmnicX --dir 0 -o /tmp/capture.pcap
ESXi includes packet capture tools via 'pktcap-uw', which allows granular packet inspection on uplink ports, VMkernel ports, and virtual 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.
- ✗
tcpdump-uw -i vmnicX -w /tmp/capture.pcap
Why it's wrong here
While tcpdump-uw exists in older or certain contexts, pktcap-uw is the robust, modern packet capture utility recommended for ESXi.
- ✗
esxcli vswitch standard trace -n vmnicX
Why it's wrong here
This command does not exist in the ESXi command set.
- ✗
esxcli network pcap start --nic vmnicX
Why it's wrong here
esxcli does not have a 'network pcap start' namespace; packet capture is performed using pktcap-uw.
- ✓
pktcap-uw --uplink vmnicX --dir 0 -o /tmp/capture.pcap
Why this is correct
pktcap-uw is the native packet capture utility in ESXi used to troubleshoot network frames on uplinks and ports.
Visual reference
About these practice questions
One of 517 original VCP-VVF practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official VMware exam blueprint
This VCP-VVF 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-VVF exam.