Which configuration allows the virtual IP address to respond to pings?

The correct choice for allowing a virtual IP address to respond to pings is the configuration with accept-icmp. This setting specifically enables ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) traffic, which includes echo requests that are generated when a ping command is issued. By allowing ICMP traffic, the virtual IP can respond to ping requests, facilitating network diagnostics and connectivity checks.

In this context, the other configurations do not directly address ICMP traffic handling. The configuration with accept-data may pertain to other types of data packets but does not explicitly allow for ICMP packets, which are essential for responding to pings. The no-preempt configuration controls whether a backup device can take over the primary role when it becomes available, but it does not influence ping responses either. Lastly, a configuration with accept-packets is too broad and does not specifically denote that ICMP packets will be accepted. Therefore, solely focusing on ICMP traffic handling makes the accept-icmp configuration the definitive choice for enabling ping responses.