CompTIA 220-1201 Practice Test 34
Question 330
During Amberline Finance's small-office network service desk, the technician encounters this condition: A domain receives email at the wrong destination after DNS changes. The supporting record states that its MX record points to a decommissioned mail host while SPF TXT data still names authorized outbound senders. The desired outcome is to distinguish mail routing records from sender authorization policies. A safe non-destructive test must be used before replacing additional parts. Which inspection most directly confirms the likely cause before changing components?
- Compare DHCP lease options, configured DNS server, and forward lookup results
- Inspect DHCP scope, existing leases and printer hardware MAC
- Inspect MX priority and targets separately from SPF TXT policy and mail service availability
- Inspect local broadcast domains, SSID mappings and remote-access traffic path
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:
Inspect MX priority and targets separately from SPF TXT policy and mail service availability. It checks the likely failure boundary before altering working parts or settings. The relevant observation is that its MX record points to a decommissioned mail host while SPF TXT data still names authorized outbound senders. The support goal is to distinguish mail routing records from sender authorization policies; this diagnose action specifically addresses mx and spf dns records distinct purposes without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Compare DHCP lease options, configured DNS server, and forward lookup results. This action is appropriate for dns resolution versus dhcp address assignment, normally when a workstation has a valid IPv4 address, gateway and lease but cannot reach services by hostname. Here the observed facts require mx and spf dns records distinct purposes instead.
B:
Inspect DHCP scope, existing leases and printer hardware MAC. This action is appropriate for dhcp reservation versus exclusion, normally when a networked printer must keep the same IPv4 address while the rest of the office remains DHCP-managed. Here the observed facts require mx and spf dns records distinct purposes instead.
D:
Inspect local broadcast domains, SSID mappings and remote-access traffic path. This action is appropriate for vlan segmentation versus vpn encrypted tunneling, normally when a small office needs guest Wi-Fi isolated from payroll devices but also needs secure remote employee access. Here the observed facts require mx and spf dns records distinct purposes instead.
Question 331
On a service ticket for Monarch Pharmacy, the team observes: A gaming PC has fans and lights but fails POST after a second RAM stick was installed. The desired outcome is to diagnose a probable memory seating or module fault before swapping unrelated parts. User data and business service continuity must be preserved. Which verification result supports the intended technical outcome?
- Verify POST and extended memory tests pass with all intended modules installed
- Verify stable boot and normal shutdown with the safe power connection
- Verify CPU temperature and fan speed stay within specified operating limits
- Verify POST and video return without the suspect expansion card
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:
Verify POST and extended memory tests pass with all intended modules installed. It proves the required function with an observable result instead of assuming the change worked. The relevant observation is that a gaming PC has fans and lights but fails POST after a second RAM stick was installed. The support goal is to diagnose a probable memory seating or module fault before swapping unrelated parts; this validate action specifically addresses desktop memory fault preventing post without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
B:
Verify stable boot and normal shutdown with the safe power connection. This action is appropriate for completely dead desktop power path, normally when a tower PC has no LEDs, fans, or POST activity after the user changed power outlets. Here the observed facts require desktop memory fault preventing post instead.
C:
Verify CPU temperature and fan speed stay within specified operating limits. This action is appropriate for cpu overheat from failed fan, normally when a desktop shuts off only after several minutes of high CPU utilization. Here the observed facts require desktop memory fault preventing post instead.
D:
Verify POST and video return without the suspect expansion card. This action is appropriate for post beep code interpretation and expansion-card isolation, normally when a newly upgraded desktop beeps at startup and shows no BIOS screen. Here the observed facts require desktop memory fault preventing post instead.
Question 332
A support request at Beacon Group presents this problem: A hospital hosts a sensitive application on-site and uses public cloud only for an integrated scheduling front end. The desired outcome is to classify a hybrid-cloud deployment based on integrated private and public environments. Service work must follow power isolation, ESD, and manufacturer instructions when applicable. What should the technician verify first to establish the problem?
- Identify whether the hypervisor runs directly on hardware or above a host desktop OS
- Identify where services run and whether there is functional integration between deployment models
- List provider and customer responsibilities for VM hosting, managed platform and finished application
- Inspect provider tenancy model, contractual isolation guarantees and application data boundaries
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:
Identify where services run and whether there is functional integration between deployment models. It checks the likely failure boundary before altering working parts or settings. The relevant observation is that a hospital hosts a sensitive application on-site and uses public cloud only for an integrated scheduling front end. The support goal is to classify a hybrid-cloud deployment based on integrated private and public environments; this diagnose action specifically addresses public versus private versus hybrid cloud without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Identify whether the hypervisor runs directly on hardware or above a host desktop OS. This action is appropriate for type 1 versus type 2 hypervisors, normally when an organization needs multiple production VMs on a dedicated virtualization host without a general-purpose desktop OS layer. Here the observed facts require public versus private versus hybrid cloud instead.
C:
List provider and customer responsibilities for VM hosting, managed platform and finished application. That action is appropriate for iaas versus paas versus saas ownership, normally when a small business wants a hosted database platform but not responsibility for patching the underlying database server OS. Here the observed facts require public versus private versus hybrid cloud instead.
D:
Inspect provider tenancy model, contractual isolation guarantees and application data boundaries. That action is appropriate for multitenancy versus dedicated cloud resources, normally when an organization uses a SaaS platform shared with several customer organizations. Here the observed facts require public versus private versus hybrid cloud instead.
Question 333
On a service ticket for Juniper Tech, the team observes: A small office sees wireless packet loss during lunch when nearby microwaves and overlapping APs are active. The desired outcome is to resolve radio interference before increasing wired internet capacity. Service work must follow power isolation, ESD, and manufacturer instructions when applicable. What observation would verify successful service restoration?
- Verify the phone registers and the PC receives the employee scope while guests remain isolated
- Verify named service access succeeds without changing the existing working gateway
- Verify movement no longer causes signal loss at the intended resolution
- Verify retry rate and throughput improve under comparable load
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Verify retry rate and throughput improve under comparable load. It proves the required function with an observable result instead of assuming the change worked. The relevant observation is that a small office sees wireless packet loss during lunch when nearby microwaves and overlapping APs are active. The support goal is to resolve radio interference before increasing wired internet capacity; this validate action specifically addresses intermittent wi-fi due to channel interference without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Verify the phone registers and the PC receives the employee scope while guests remain isolated. This action is appropriate for vlan mismatch causing one desk to lose access, normally when a desk phone and PC stop reaching their correct services after a switch port change. Here the observed facts require intermittent wi-fi due to channel interference instead.
B:
Verify named service access succeeds without changing the existing working gateway. This action is appropriate for dns failure with working ip connectivity, normally when a workstation opens a service directly by numeric IP but says its hostname cannot be resolved. Here the observed facts require intermittent wi-fi due to channel interference instead.
C:
Verify movement no longer causes signal loss at the intended resolution. This action is appropriate for intermittent monitor image due to video cable, normally when a monitor intermittently goes black when its display cable is moved. Here the observed facts require intermittent wi-fi due to channel interference instead.
Question 334
At Juniper Tech, a technician working in desktop hardware service bench identifies this issue: A designer's PC has an available physical PCIe x16 slot but an upgraded graphics card fails under load. The supporting record states that the card also needs supplemental PCIe power cables that the PSU lacks. The desired outcome is to check slot, PSU and physical-clearance dependencies for an expansion card. Any configuration change must be reversible and validated on a controlled test device. What observation would verify successful service restoration?
- Verify signed media boot and unsigned test boot is rejected by policy
- Verify both pages print correctly on the requested paper with intended orientation
- Verify stable output and no PSU overload when rendering
- Verify sustained workload temperatures stay within processor limits and throttling ceases
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:
Verify stable output and no PSU overload when rendering. It proves the required function with an observable result instead of assuming the change worked. The relevant observation is that the card also needs supplemental PCIe power cables that the PSU lacks. The support goal is to check slot, PSU and physical-clearance dependencies for an expansion card; this validate action specifically addresses pcie slot and gpu power constraints without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Verify signed media boot and unsigned test boot is rejected by policy. That action is appropriate for uefi secure boot versus boot order, normally when a laptop can start a trusted OS but prompts when an unsigned bootloader is inserted. Here the observed facts require pcie slot and gpu power constraints instead.
B:
Verify both pages print correctly on the requested paper with intended orientation. This action is appropriate for printer duplex and tray settings, normally when a network printer puts letter-size forms on the wrong paper and uses one-sided output. Here the observed facts require pcie slot and gpu power constraints instead.
D:
Verify sustained workload temperatures stay within processor limits and throttling ceases. That action is appropriate for cpu heatsink thermal interface, normally when a workstation reaches a thermal limit seconds after a cooler was replaced. Here the observed facts require pcie slot and gpu power constraints instead.
Question 335
On a service ticket for Fountain Transport, the team observes: A long graphics board physically fits but the system resets because its auxiliary power is missing. The desired outcome is to check slot, PSU and physical-clearance dependencies for an expansion card. The goal is to restore required function without creating a new security or safety problem. What should support monitor to catch a recurrence of the same failure?
- Monitor PSU voltage alarms and future expansion power requirements
- Monitor CPU temperature excursions and fan failures after service
- Monitor power and GPU temperature after the upgrade
- Monitor unauthorized changes to boot trust keys and firmware boot entries
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:
Monitor power and GPU temperature after the upgrade. It tracks recurrence of the specific failure mechanism over time. The relevant observation is that a long graphics board physically fits but the system resets because its auxiliary power is missing. The support goal is to check slot, PSU and physical-clearance dependencies for an expansion card; this monitor action specifically addresses pcie slot and gpu power constraints without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Monitor PSU voltage alarms and future expansion power requirements. This action is appropriate for psu wattage and 20+4 atx connector, normally when a desktop upgrade adds a high-power GPU and the PC abruptly powers off during intensive graphics workloads. Here the observed facts require pcie slot and gpu power constraints instead.
B:
Monitor CPU temperature excursions and fan failures after service. This action is appropriate for cpu heatsink thermal interface, normally when a workstation reaches a thermal limit seconds after a cooler was replaced. Here the observed facts require pcie slot and gpu power constraints instead.
D:
Monitor unauthorized changes to boot trust keys and firmware boot entries. This action is appropriate for uefi secure boot versus boot order, normally when a laptop can start a trusted OS but prompts when an unsigned bootloader is inserted. Here the observed facts require pcie slot and gpu power constraints instead.
Question 336
A support request at Clearwater Telecom presents this problem: An app team wants a hosted relational database without maintaining guest operating systems. The desired outcome is to select a service model based on who manages runtime infrastructure. The goal is to restore required function without creating a new security or safety problem. What should the technician recommend as the corrective approach?
- Choose appropriate PaaS managed database for the stated database-without-OS-maintenance requirement
- Estimate data transfer expense and design only necessary outbound flows
- Configure supported autoscaling rules with limits for traffic-driven elasticity
- Describe the combination as hybrid cloud rather than calling it wholly public or wholly private
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:
Choose appropriate PaaS managed database for the stated database-without-OS-maintenance requirement. It corrects the documented cause using the compatible technology and support constraints. The relevant observation is that an app team wants a hosted relational database without maintaining guest operating systems. The support goal is to select a service model based on who manages runtime infrastructure; this design action specifically addresses iaas versus paas versus saas ownership without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
B:
Estimate data transfer expense and design only necessary outbound flows. This action is appropriate for metered cloud ingress and egress costs, normally when an organization expects to store modest data in cloud storage but regularly exports terabytes to an on-premises analytics platform. Here the observed facts require iaas versus paas versus saas ownership instead.
C:
Configure supported autoscaling rules with limits for traffic-driven elasticity. That action is appropriate for cloud elasticity versus fixed provisioning, normally when an online storefront sees traffic triple for two hours and then fall back to normal. Here the observed facts require iaas versus paas versus saas ownership instead.
D:
Describe the combination as hybrid cloud rather than calling it wholly public or wholly private. That action is appropriate for public versus private versus hybrid cloud, normally when an enterprise must keep one legacy regulatory workload in its own datacenter while scaling an unrelated web front end in a public provider. Here the observed facts require iaas versus paas versus saas ownership instead.
Question 337
At Falcon Transit, a technician working in branch networking support identifies this issue: A technician tries to use headphone Bluetooth pairing steps to enroll an NFC employee access card. The desired outcome is to match NFC and Bluetooth to their intended interaction distance and purpose. The goal is to restore required function without creating a new security or safety problem. Which safe pilot action gives the most relevant evidence?
- Tap a test badge at the documented NFC distance and pair a test headset via Bluetooth
- Pilot client roaming and throughput measurements on both bands in the actual locations
- Pilot association with one certified 6 GHz client and one older 5 GHz-only client
- Test an intentionally miswired patch cable with a wiremap tester and trace a separate unlabeled cable
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:
Tap a test badge at the documented NFC distance and pair a test headset via Bluetooth. It tests the proposed solution safely on an approved representative system. The relevant observation is that a technician tries to use headphone Bluetooth pairing steps to enroll an NFC employee access card. The support goal is to match NFC and Bluetooth to their intended interaction distance and purpose; this pilot action specifically addresses nfc short-range tap versus bluetooth pairing without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
B:
Pilot client roaming and throughput measurements on both bands in the actual locations. That action is appropriate for 2.4 ghz versus 5 ghz wi-fi trade-offs, normally when a warehouse needs coverage through walls at modest data rates while a crowded office needs faster nearby links. Here the observed facts require nfc short-range tap versus bluetooth pairing instead.
C:
Pilot association with one certified 6 GHz client and one older 5 GHz-only client. That action is appropriate for 6 ghz wi-fi client compatibility, normally when a new 6 GHz SSID is invisible to several laptops even though 5 GHz works. Here the observed facts require nfc short-range tap versus bluetooth pairing instead.
D:
Test an intentionally miswired patch cable with a wiremap tester and trace a separate unlabeled cable. This action is appropriate for cable tester versus toner and probe, normally when a technician must determine whether a terminated Ethernet run has crossed wires and split pairs. Here the observed facts require nfc short-range tap versus bluetooth pairing instead.
Question 338
During Horizon College's end-user troubleshooting, the technician encounters this condition: A storage drive goes offline when its case is moved and diagnostics show many SATA CRC counts. The desired outcome is to distinguish data cabling problems from disk surface failure. A safe non-destructive test must be used before replacing additional parts. Which diagnostic check best distinguishes the relevant fault?
- Inspect channel use, signal strength, client retries and non-Wi-Fi interference sources
- Check SMART attributes, backup currency and read error logs
- Identify the failed member, array level, replacement size and current backup state
- Inspect SATA data connector seating, cable integrity and interface error counters
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Inspect SATA data connector seating, cable integrity and interface error counters. It checks the likely failure boundary before altering working parts or settings. The relevant observation is that a storage drive goes offline when its case is moved and diagnostics show many SATA CRC counts. The support goal is to distinguish data cabling problems from disk surface failure; this diagnose action specifically addresses intermittent sata cable data fault without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Inspect channel use, signal strength, client retries and non-Wi-Fi interference sources. This action is appropriate for intermittent wi-fi due to channel interference, normally when users near a lunchroom suffer slow 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi at peak periods while wired links stay normal. Here the observed facts require intermittent sata cable data fault instead.
B:
Check SMART attributes, backup currency and read error logs. That action is appropriate for s.m.a.r.t. warning and imminent drive failure, normally when a desktop disk reports increasing reallocated sectors and read retries. Here the observed facts require intermittent sata cable data fault instead.
C:
Identify the failed member, array level, replacement size and current backup state. That action is appropriate for degraded raid after a failed member, normally when a mirrored NAS reports one disk failed while files remain available. Here the observed facts require intermittent sata cable data fault instead.
Question 339
During Westbrook Energy's hardware and network incident triage, the technician encounters this condition: A shipping label printer feeds paper but produces completely blank labels. The supporting record states that the printer uses direct-thermal media and its paper roll has been installed with the coated side facing away from the heating element. The desired outcome is to diagnose thermal paper orientation rather than ink or toner depletion. Any configuration change must be reversible and validated on a controlled test device. What should the technician verify first to establish the problem?
- Inspect UEFI boot entries, disk detection and approved operating system bootloader
- Inspect feed roller grip, separation pad, paper weight and tray condition
- Check nozzle pattern, ink cartridge condition and printhead alignment
- Inspect whether the media is direct thermal, coated side, sensor placement and heating element cleanliness
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Inspect whether the media is direct thermal, coated side, sensor placement and heating element cleanliness. It checks the likely failure boundary before altering working parts or settings. The relevant observation is that the printer uses direct-thermal media and its paper roll has been installed with the coated side facing away from the heating element. The support goal is to diagnose thermal paper orientation rather than ink or toner depletion; this diagnose action specifically addresses thermal printer paper orientation without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Inspect UEFI boot entries, disk detection and approved operating system bootloader. This action is appropriate for uefi boot order after a second drive, normally when a computer reports no bootable operating system after a new secondary drive was added. Here the observed facts require thermal printer paper orientation instead.
B:
Inspect feed roller grip, separation pad, paper weight and tray condition. That action is appropriate for laser printer repeated paper jams at pickup, normally when a laser printer jams on the first page when it tries to feed paper from tray 1. Here the observed facts require thermal printer paper orientation instead.
C:
Check nozzle pattern, ink cartridge condition and printhead alignment. That action is appropriate for inkjet horizontal banding and nozzle obstruction, normally when an inkjet photo printer produces blank horizontal stripes in cyan images. Here the observed facts require thermal printer paper orientation instead.
Question 340
A support request at Westbrook Energy presents this problem: A two-disk mirror still serves files but its management page shows a failed member and no redundancy. The desired outcome is to restore RAID redundancy without wiping the surviving volume. User data and business service continuity must be preserved. What should the technician verify first to establish the problem?
- Identify the failed member, array level, replacement size and current backup state
- Inspect UEFI boot entries, disk detection and approved operating system bootloader
- Inspect whether the media is direct thermal, coated side, sensor placement and heating element cleanliness
- Check M.2 socket specifications, BIOS PCIe settings, lane sharing and drive keying
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:
Identify the failed member, array level, replacement size and current backup state. It checks the likely failure boundary before altering working parts or settings. The relevant observation is that a two-disk mirror still serves files but its management page shows a failed member and no redundancy. The support goal is to restore RAID redundancy without wiping the surviving volume; this diagnose action specifically addresses degraded raid after a failed member without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
B:
Inspect UEFI boot entries, disk detection and approved operating system bootloader. That action is appropriate for uefi boot order after a second drive, normally when a computer reports no bootable operating system after a new secondary drive was added. Here the observed facts require degraded raid after a failed member instead.
C:
Inspect whether the media is direct thermal, coated side, sensor placement and heating element cleanliness. This action is appropriate for thermal printer paper orientation, normally when a shipping label printer feeds paper but produces completely blank labels. Here the observed facts require degraded raid after a failed member instead.
D:
Check M.2 socket specifications, BIOS PCIe settings, lane sharing and drive keying. That action is appropriate for nvme ssd not detected after installation, normally when a new NVMe SSD is absent from firmware and the storage installer. Here the observed facts require degraded raid after a failed member instead.
