100-140 Question 204
Single answerA user reports that they are unable to access websites or any resources outside their local network. Upon investigation, you discover that their computer has a valid IP address and subnet mask but no default gateway is configured. What is the most likely reason for this issue?
- A
The computer cannot communicate with devices on the same local network.
- B
The computer cannot communicate with devices outside the local network.
- C
The computer cannot resolve domain names to IP addresses.
- D
The computer cannot send or receive any packets, even within the local network.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The default gateway acts as the route to send traffic outside the local network. If it is not configured, the computer cannot reach devices or resources beyond the local subnet, such as websites or external servers. However, communication within the local network remains unaffected.
- A. Incorrect.
A missing default gateway does not impact communication within the same local network, as devices on the same subnet can communicate directly.
- B. Correct.
Without a default gateway, the computer cannot route traffic to devices outside its local network, such as websites on the internet or external resources.
- C. Incorrect.
While DNS resolution issues can prevent access to websites, they are unrelated to the configuration of a default gateway.
- D. Incorrect.
The computer can still send and receive packets within the local network even if a default gateway is not configured, as long as the local IP and subnet mask are correctly set.