CompTIA 220-1201 Practice Test 5
Question 40
On a service ticket for Granite Capital, the team observes: Staff complain about busy wireless channels in a meeting room. The supporting record states that the available analyzer shows neighboring SSIDs and channel occupancy, while a wired tap captures Ethernet frames. The desired outcome is to use an RF analysis tool for interference assessment rather than wired packet capture. Any configuration change must be reversible and validated on a controlled test device. What should the technician recommend as the corrective approach?
- Use a cable tester for conductor mapping and a toner/probe to locate an unidentified cable
- Use a Wi-Fi analyzer to select a cleaner channel and appropriate channel width
- Choose the suitable provisioned fiber plan when bidirectional transfer capacity is the dominant requirement
- Allow approved SMB 445 between specified clients and the file server without opening remote desktop
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:
Use a Wi-Fi analyzer to select a cleaner channel and appropriate channel width. It corrects the documented cause using the compatible technology and support constraints. The relevant observation is that the available analyzer shows neighboring SSIDs and channel occupancy, while a wired tap captures Ethernet frames. The support goal is to use an RF analysis tool for interference assessment rather than wired packet capture; this design action specifically addresses wi-fi analyzer versus network tap without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Use a cable tester for conductor mapping and a toner/probe to locate an unidentified 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 wi-fi analyzer versus network tap instead.
C:
Choose the suitable provisioned fiber plan when bidirectional transfer capacity is the dominant requirement. This action is appropriate for fiber wan versus dsl last-mile capacity, normally when a remote design office regularly transfers multi-gigabyte files and can order either fiber or DSL. Here the observed facts require wi-fi analyzer versus network tap instead.
D:
Allow approved SMB 445 between specified clients and the file server without opening remote desktop. This action is appropriate for smb file sharing port versus rdp, normally when a user can ping a shared Windows file server but cannot map a network share. Here the observed facts require wi-fi analyzer versus network tap instead.
Question 41
At Seabright Supplies, a technician working in small-office network service desk identifies this issue: A remote design office regularly transfers multi-gigabyte files and can order either fiber or DSL. The supporting record states that the existing copper DSL has far lower upload performance than the offered symmetric fiber plan. The desired outcome is to select an ISP connection type according to real throughput and availability. Only approved service procedures and compatible replacement components may be used. Which safe pilot action gives the most relevant evidence?
- Collect a short approved RF survey before and after changing the test AP channel
- Sketch a hypothetical watch-to-phone, office switch, and remote-site circuit topology
- Test representative file transfers through a trial fiber connection within provider limits
- Test a lab Ethernet connection after a provisioned ONT, without altering optical connectors
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:
Test representative file transfers through a trial fiber connection within provider limits. It tests the proposed solution safely on an approved representative system. The relevant observation is that the existing copper DSL has far lower upload performance than the offered symmetric fiber plan. The support goal is to select an ISP connection type according to real throughput and availability; this pilot action specifically addresses fiber wan versus dsl last-mile capacity without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Collect a short approved RF survey before and after changing the test AP channel. This action is appropriate for wi-fi analyzer versus network tap, normally when staff complain about busy wireless channels in a meeting room. Here the observed facts require fiber wan versus dsl last-mile capacity instead.
B:
Sketch a hypothetical watch-to-phone, office switch, and remote-site circuit topology. This action is appropriate for pan versus lan versus wan scope, normally when a technician must classify a Bluetooth watch connection, office Ethernet and multi-site leased link. Here the observed facts require fiber wan versus dsl last-mile capacity instead.
D:
Test a lab Ethernet connection after a provisioned ONT, without altering optical connectors. This action is appropriate for ont versus cable modem access equipment, normally when a customer receives a fiber-to-the-premises service but attempts to connect the optical fiber directly to a DOCSIS cable modem. Here the observed facts require fiber wan versus dsl last-mile capacity instead.
Question 42
A support request at Northland Labs presents this problem: A technician must determine whether a terminated Ethernet run has crossed wires and split pairs. The supporting record states that the office has a wiremap cable tester and a toner/probe used for tracing cable identity. The desired outcome is to select the diagnostic tool for wiring correctness versus cable tracing. The technician must document observations separately from assumptions. Which verification result supports the intended technical outcome?
- Verify mapping succeeds for authorized users while unrelated users remain denied
- Confirm each segment is classified by scope rather than the brand of equipment
- Verify improved wireless contention and connection reliability without assuming the wired tap measured radio noise
- Verify correct pin continuity and pair mapping after re-termination
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Verify correct pin continuity and pair mapping after re-termination. It proves the required function with an observable result instead of assuming the change worked. The relevant observation is that the office has a wiremap cable tester and a toner/probe used for tracing cable identity. The support goal is to select the diagnostic tool for wiring correctness versus cable tracing; this validate action specifically addresses cable tester versus toner and probe without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Verify mapping succeeds for authorized users while unrelated users remain denied. This action is appropriate for smb file sharing port versus rdp, normally when a user can ping a shared Windows file server but cannot map a network share. Here the observed facts require cable tester versus toner and probe instead.
B:
Confirm each segment is classified by scope rather than the brand of equipment. This action is appropriate for pan versus lan versus wan scope, normally when a technician must classify a Bluetooth watch connection, office Ethernet and multi-site leased link. Here the observed facts require cable tester versus toner and probe instead.
C:
Verify improved wireless contention and connection reliability without assuming the wired tap measured radio noise. This action is appropriate for wi-fi analyzer versus network tap, normally when staff complain about busy wireless channels in a meeting room. Here the observed facts require cable tester versus toner and probe instead.
Question 43
A support request at Vertex Media presents this problem: An IT manager insists a parity array survive two failed disks during a long maintenance window. The desired outcome is to select a RAID level providing protection against two disk failures. Only approved service procedures and compatible replacement components may be used. Which planned change most directly resolves the documented issue?
- Configure a supported two-disk RAID 1 mirror giving approximately one disk of usable capacity
- Connect through a supported Thunderbolt or USB4 port and rated cable meeting the enclosure requirements
- Select a compatible SSD rather than a spinning HDD for the specified latency and shock profile
- Use RAID 6 when the stated requirement is two-drive fault tolerance
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Use RAID 6 when the stated requirement is two-drive fault tolerance. It corrects the documented cause using the compatible technology and support constraints. The relevant observation is that an IT manager insists a parity array survive two failed disks during a long maintenance window. The support goal is to select a RAID level providing protection against two disk failures; this design action specifically addresses raid 5 versus raid 6 dual parity without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Configure a supported two-disk RAID 1 mirror giving approximately one disk of usable capacity. This action is appropriate for raid 1 mirror capacity and resilience, normally when a file server has two equal 2 TB disks and needs redundancy against one disk failure. Here the observed facts require raid 5 versus raid 6 dual parity instead.
B:
Connect through a supported Thunderbolt or USB4 port and rated cable meeting the enclosure requirements. This action is appropriate for usb-c versus thunderbolt port capability, normally when an external high-bandwidth storage enclosure only negotiates low speed on a laptop USB-C connector. Here the observed facts require raid 5 versus raid 6 dual parity instead.
C:
Select a compatible SSD rather than a spinning HDD for the specified latency and shock profile. This action is appropriate for ssd versus hdd latency and interface, normally when a mobile user needs low-latency storage and shock resistance but a procurement request specifies a 5400 RPM hard disk. Here the observed facts require raid 5 versus raid 6 dual parity instead.
Question 44
At Crescent Operations, a technician working in computer equipment refresh identifies this issue: A rarely used color inkjet skips cyan stripes despite a full cyan cartridge. The desired outcome is to use appropriate inkjet printhead maintenance instead of replacing laser consumables. Service work must follow power isolation, ESD, and manufacturer instructions when applicable. Which configuration or repair action best addresses the stated requirement?
- Order a compatible SATA M.2 model or install into a supported NVMe PCIe slot
- Replace the correct laser toner cartridge and recalibrate if indicated
- Set the intended paper tray, form size and two-sided mode in driver or print server
- Run manufacturer-approved printhead cleaning before considering component replacement
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Run manufacturer-approved printhead cleaning before considering component replacement. It corrects the documented cause using the compatible technology and support constraints. The relevant observation is that a rarely used color inkjet skips cyan stripes despite a full cyan cartridge. The support goal is to use appropriate inkjet printhead maintenance instead of replacing laser consumables; this design action specifically addresses inkjet printhead clogging without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Order a compatible SATA M.2 model or install into a supported NVMe PCIe slot. This action is appropriate for nvme pcie versus sata storage interface, normally when a technician orders an M.2 SSD for a motherboard slot that supports only SATA signaling. Here the observed facts require inkjet printhead clogging instead.
B:
Replace the correct laser toner cartridge and recalibrate if indicated. This action is appropriate for laser printer faded output and toner, normally when a monochrome laser printer produces uniformly faint pages after many high-volume print jobs. Here the observed facts require inkjet printhead clogging instead.
C:
Set the intended paper tray, form size and two-sided mode in driver or print server. 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 inkjet printhead clogging instead.
Question 45
During Horizon College's hardware and network incident triage, the technician encounters this condition: An inkjet photo printer produces blank horizontal stripes in cyan images. The supporting record states that a nozzle check identifies missing cyan nozzles while the paper path is clear. The desired outcome is to correct an ink delivery issue rather than changing duplex settings. User data and business service continuity must be preserved. How should the solution first be tested on an approved spare or pilot system?
- Run one controlled cleaning cycle and print a nozzle verification pattern
- Print a known test pattern after substituting a known-good imaging unit
- Send a harmless test print after correcting the queue target
- Feed a short set of labeled test media in the proper orientation
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:
Run one controlled cleaning cycle and print a nozzle verification pattern. It tests the proposed solution safely on an approved representative system. The relevant observation is that a nozzle check identifies missing cyan nozzles while the paper path is clear. The support goal is to correct an ink delivery issue rather than changing duplex settings; this pilot action specifically addresses inkjet horizontal banding and nozzle obstruction without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
B:
Print a known test pattern after substituting a known-good imaging unit. This action is appropriate for laser repeated streaks from drum defect, normally when printed laser pages have a dark stripe repeated at the same distance down each sheet. Here the observed facts require inkjet horizontal banding and nozzle obstruction instead.
C:
Send a harmless test print after correcting the queue target. This action is appropriate for printer offline queue despite network availability, normally when a shared printer is reachable on the network but user jobs accumulate in an offline queue. Here the observed facts require inkjet horizontal banding and nozzle obstruction instead.
D:
Feed a short set of labeled test media in the proper orientation. 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 inkjet horizontal banding and nozzle obstruction instead.
Question 46
At Fountain Transport, a technician working in IT virtualization planning identifies this issue: An organization expects to store modest data in cloud storage but regularly exports terabytes to an on-premises analytics platform. The supporting record states that the provider bills some outbound data movement as egress while inbound transfer may have different rates. The desired outcome is to account for measured usage and egress charges in cloud cost design. The customer requires a verified fix rather than a guess based on one symptom. Which diagnostic check best distinguishes the relevant fault?
- Identify where services run and whether there is functional integration between deployment models
- Inspect snapshot location, retention and independent backup copies
- Inspect provider tenancy model, contractual isolation guarantees and application data boundaries
- Inspect billing dimensions for storage, requests, ingress and outbound transfer
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Inspect billing dimensions for storage, requests, ingress and outbound transfer. It checks the likely failure boundary before altering working parts or settings. The relevant observation is that the provider bills some outbound data movement as egress while inbound transfer may have different rates. The support goal is to account for measured usage and egress charges in cloud cost design; this diagnose action specifically addresses metered cloud ingress and egress costs without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Identify where services run and whether there is functional integration between deployment models. This 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 metered cloud ingress and egress costs instead.
B:
Inspect snapshot location, retention and independent backup copies. This action is appropriate for vm snapshot versus independent backup, normally when a developer calls a local VM snapshot a complete disaster recovery backup. Here the observed facts require metered cloud ingress and egress costs instead.
C:
Inspect provider tenancy model, contractual isolation guarantees and application data boundaries. This 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 metered cloud ingress and egress costs instead.
Question 47
A support request at Northland Labs presents this problem: A developer calls a local VM snapshot a complete disaster recovery backup. The supporting record states that both the VM and its snapshot live on the same single physical disk. The desired outcome is to differentiate state rollback checkpoints from separately stored recoverable backups. Only approved service procedures and compatible replacement components may be used. Which configuration or repair action best addresses the stated requirement?
- Use a container image for the application and a VM where a separate guest OS is necessary
- Deploy a supported VDI solution with centrally hosted desktop sessions
- Keep snapshots for short rollback and use separate validated backups for data resilience
- Select a supported Type 1 bare-metal hypervisor for the production host requirement
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:
Keep snapshots for short rollback and use separate validated backups for data resilience. It corrects the documented cause using the compatible technology and support constraints. The relevant observation is that both the VM and its snapshot live on the same single physical disk. The support goal is to differentiate state rollback checkpoints from separately stored recoverable backups; this design action specifically addresses vm snapshot versus independent backup without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Use a container image for the application and a VM where a separate guest OS is necessary. This action is appropriate for container isolation versus full virtual machine, normally when a team needs to package one web service and its dependencies but not another complete guest kernel. Here the observed facts require vm snapshot versus independent backup instead.
B:
Deploy a supported VDI solution with centrally hosted desktop sessions. This action is appropriate for vdi versus local desktop processing, normally when a company wants centrally managed user desktops accessed from inexpensive endpoints. Here the observed facts require vm snapshot versus independent backup instead.
D:
Select a supported Type 1 bare-metal hypervisor for the production host requirement. 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 vm snapshot versus independent backup instead.
Question 48
On a service ticket for Harborworks, the team observes: A tablet becomes hot in a backpack because one application retries a cloud sync every few seconds. The desired outcome is to identify energy consumption from software activity rather than immediately swapping the battery. Only approved service procedures and compatible replacement components may be used. What should support monitor to catch a recurrence of the same failure?
- Monitor rebuild progress and additional SMART failures
- Monitor repeat cable wear, overheating and loose plug fit
- Monitor abnormal background wakeups and OS update regressions
- Monitor data caps, roaming restrictions and carrier registration changes
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:
Monitor abnormal background wakeups and OS update regressions. It tracks recurrence of the specific failure mechanism over time. The relevant observation is that a tablet becomes hot in a backpack because one application retries a cloud sync every few seconds. The support goal is to identify energy consumption from software activity rather than immediately swapping the battery; this monitor action specifically addresses background app mobile battery drain without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Monitor rebuild progress and additional SMART failures. This 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 background app mobile battery drain instead.
B:
Monitor repeat cable wear, overheating and loose plug fit. This action is appropriate for mobile charging port debris, normally when a phone charges intermittently only when its USB-C plug is held at an angle. Here the observed facts require background app mobile battery drain instead.
D:
Monitor data caps, roaming restrictions and carrier registration changes. This action is appropriate for mobile data failure due to disabled cellular, normally when a smartphone can browse over Wi-Fi but cannot connect to the internet when leaving the office. Here the observed facts require background app mobile battery drain instead.
Question 49
During Crescent Operations's hardware and network incident triage, the technician encounters this condition: A computer reports no bootable operating system after a new secondary drive was added. The supporting record states that the original OS disk remains detected but firmware boot order points at the empty secondary disk. The desired outcome is to restore the intended boot entry without formatting healthy storage. A safe non-destructive test must be used before replacing additional parts. Which diagnostic check best distinguishes the relevant fault?
- Identify the failed member, array level, replacement size and current backup state
- Inspect SATA data connector seating, cable integrity and interface error counters
- Inspect UEFI boot entries, disk detection and approved operating system bootloader
- Check M.2 socket specifications, BIOS PCIe settings, lane sharing and drive keying
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:
Inspect UEFI boot entries, disk detection and approved operating system bootloader. It checks the likely failure boundary before altering working parts or settings. The relevant observation is that the original OS disk remains detected but firmware boot order points at the empty secondary disk. The support goal is to restore the intended boot entry without formatting healthy storage; this diagnose action specifically addresses uefi boot order after a second drive without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Identify the failed member, array level, replacement size and current backup state. This 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 uefi boot order after a second drive instead.
B:
Inspect SATA data connector seating, cable integrity and interface error counters. This action is appropriate for intermittent sata cable data fault, normally when a SATA HDD disappears occasionally despite healthy spin-up and no clear media errors. Here the observed facts require uefi boot order after a second drive instead.
D:
Check M.2 socket specifications, BIOS PCIe settings, lane sharing and drive keying. This 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 uefi boot order after a second drive instead.
Question 50
During Lakeside Analytics's branch networking support, the technician encounters this condition: A desktop shows a 169.254.x.x address and can see a nearby printer but cannot reach the router. The desired outcome is to recognize IPv4 link-local APIPA as a DHCP reachability symptom. The customer requires a verified fix rather than a guess based on one symptom. Which planned change most directly resolves the documented issue?
- Configure the reachable 192.168.10.1 gateway on the office client
- Label short-range personal devices PAN, building networking LAN and multi-site WAN appropriately
- Use supported WPA3-Personal or appropriate WPA2-AES compatibility with strong credentials and retire WEP
- Restore correct DHCP reachability rather than treating the APIPA address as a routable internet address
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Restore correct DHCP reachability rather than treating the APIPA address as a routable internet address. It corrects the documented cause using the compatible technology and support constraints. The relevant observation is that a desktop shows a 169.254.x.x address and can see a nearby printer but cannot reach the router. The support goal is to recognize IPv4 link-local APIPA as a DHCP reachability symptom; this design action specifically addresses apipa 169.254.x.x missing dhcp lease without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Configure the reachable 192.168.10.1 gateway on the office client. That action is appropriate for ipv4 subnet mask and gateway selection, normally when a small office workstation has 192.168.10.80/24 and a gateway incorrectly set to 192.168.11.1. Here the observed facts require apipa 169.254.x.x missing dhcp lease instead.
B:
Label short-range personal devices PAN, building networking LAN and multi-site WAN appropriately. This action is appropriate for pan versus lan versus wan scope, normally when a technician must classify a Bluetooth watch connection, office Ethernet and multi-site leased link. Here the observed facts require apipa 169.254.x.x missing dhcp lease instead.
C:
Use supported WPA3-Personal or appropriate WPA2-AES compatibility with strong credentials and retire WEP. That action is appropriate for soho wireless wpa security setup, normally when a small office access point still allows WEP while newer managed clients support WPA3-Personal. Here the observed facts require apipa 169.254.x.x missing dhcp lease instead.
