If an IP address is 192.168.231.6, what gateway will your computer need to communicate with it?

• A. 192.168.231.1
• B. None, it is on the same LAN
• C. 192.168.231.254
• D. 192.168.200.15

Answer: (B)

In this scenario, the correct choice indicates that your computer does not need a gateway to communicate with the IP address 192.168.231.6 because both devices are on the same Local Area Network (LAN).

A gateway is typically required when sending data to a different network or subnet. Since the IP address falls within the same subnet of the specified range (given it is likely in the same Class C network which typically uses a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0), communication can occur directly without the need for a routing device. Devices on the same LAN can communicate freely by sending packets directly to one another.

The other options suggest specific gateway addresses that would only be necessary if the computer were communicating with a device located on a different network. If the device needed to communicate outside its existing LAN—such as to an IP address that does not share the same subnet—it would then require a specified gateway to route that traffic properly. However, in this case, both the source IP and the target IP are in the same subnet, reinforcing that direct communication is possible.