220-1201 Practice Test 33 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A user reports that their new laptop can connect to the office Wi-Fi but cannot access any internet sites. Other devices on the same network work fine. Which tool should be used first to verify the laptop's IP configuration?

Accepted Answer

ipconfig. The ipconfig command displays the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway assigned to a network adapter. Since the laptop connects to Wi-Fi but can't reach the internet, checking its IP configuration (e.g., whether it received a valid address via DHCP) is the logical first step.

Answer

Ping

Answer

Tracert

Answer

Netstat

Question 2

During a network cable installation, a technician needs to verify that a newly run Cat6 cable is properly terminated and free of shorts or opens. The cable is not yet connected to any switch or device. Which tool should the technician use?

Accepted Answer

Cable tester. A cable tester sends signals down each wire pair and checks for continuity, shorts, opens, and miswiring. Because the cable is not connected to live equipment, a cable tester is the correct tool for this verification.

Answer

Tone generator and probe

Answer

Multimeter

Answer

Loopback plug

Question 3

A small office has intermittent network dropouts. A technician suspects electromagnetic interference (EMI) from nearby fluorescent lights affecting the unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cables. Which tool can best confirm the presence of EMI on the cable?

Accepted Answer

Cable certifier. A cable certifier (or advanced cable tester) can measure signal-to-noise ratio and detect excessive noise or interference on the cable. This tool provides quantitative data to confirm EMI issues, unlike simpler testers.

Answer

Tone generator

Answer

Ping

Answer

Wi-Fi analyzer

Question 4

A user reports that their wired desktop cannot connect to the network. The technician verifies the link light on the computer's NIC is off. Using a known-good patch cable does not resolve the issue. Which tool should be used to test the wall jack's wiring?

Accepted Answer

Tone generator and probe. A tone generator and probe allow a technician to trace the wall jack back to the patch panel and verify continuity. Since the link light is off and a known-good cable didn't help, the issue may be in the wall jack or its termination, and tracing the cable is the next step.

Answer

Cable tester

Answer

Loopback plug

Answer

Multimeter

Question 5

A company's IT department is deploying new VoIP phones. After connecting a phone to a PoE switch, the phone does not power on. The switch port is configured for PoE and shows no errors. Which tool should be used to verify that the Ethernet cable delivers power correctly?

Accepted Answer

Multimeter. A multimeter can measure voltage on the Ethernet cable's power pairs. Since the switch is configured for PoE and the cable appears intact, measuring voltage at the phone end can confirm whether power is reaching the device.

Answer

Cable tester

Answer

Tone generator

Answer

Wi-Fi analyzer

Question 6

A technician is troubleshooting a user's computer that can reach internal servers by IP address but not by hostname. Other computers on the same subnet work correctly. Which tool should the technician use to check the computer's DNS resolution?

Accepted Answer

nslookup. The nslookup command queries DNS servers to resolve hostnames to IP addresses. Since internal IPs work but names don't, the issue is likely DNS-related, and nslookup can test whether the computer's DNS server is responding correctly.

Answer

Ping

Answer

ipconfig /flushdns

Answer

Netstat

Question 7

A user's laptop intermittently loses connection to the wireless network. The technician suspects channel congestion from nearby access points. Which tool should be used to identify the least congested Wi-Fi channel?

Accepted Answer

Wi-Fi analyzer. A Wi-Fi analyzer scans the airwaves to show nearby access points, their channels, and signal strength. This data helps the technician choose a channel with less interference, improving connection stability.

Answer

Ping

Answer

Tracert

Answer

Cable tester

Question 8

A technician is deploying a new network in a warehouse and needs to measure the length of a spool of Cat6a cable before installation to ensure it does not exceed the 100-meter segment limit. Which tool should be used?

Accepted Answer

TDR (Time-Domain Reflectometer). A time-domain reflectometer (TDR) sends a pulse down the cable and measures the time it takes to reflect back, calculating the length accurately. This is essential for verifying cable runs stay within specification before installation.

Answer

Multimeter

Answer

Cable tester

Answer

Tone generator

Question 9

A network administrator is troubleshooting a slow connection between two buildings connected by a fiber optic link. The link is up but throughput is lower than expected. Which tool should be used to measure the exact signal loss in the fiber?

Accepted Answer

OTDR. An optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) sends light pulses into the fiber and measures backscatter to identify loss, splices, bends, and breaks. It provides a detailed profile of the fiber's condition, which is crucial for diagnosing throughput issues.

Answer

Multimeter

Answer

Tone generator

Answer

Wi-Fi analyzer

Question 10

A technician is configuring a small office network and needs to assign a static IP address to a printer. The technician pings the intended IP address and gets no reply, but the printer still fails to communicate after configuration. Which tool should be used to verify that no other device on the network is using that IP address?

Accepted Answer

arp -a. The arp command shows the IP-to-MAC address mappings in the local ARP cache. If another device responded to a ping earlier, its MAC might be cached, or the technician can use arp -a to check for existing entries. However, a more reliable method is to use a network scanner or check the DHCP server logs. In this context, arp helps verify if the IP is already in use by checking the cache after a broadcast.

Answer

Ping -t

Answer

ipconfig /all

Answer

Netstat -r

Question 11

A user reports that their wired workstation cannot connect to the internet, but other devices on the same switch work fine. You need to verify the link status and speed of the workstation's network adapter. Which tool should you use?

Accepted Answer

Cable tester. This question tests knowledge of basic network troubleshooting tools. The cable tester is designed to verify physical connectivity and link status of Ethernet cables, making it the correct choice for checking the workstation's connection.

Answer

Multimeter

Answer

Toner probe

Answer

Loopback plug

Question 12

During a network upgrade, you need to identify which cable in a messy patch panel corresponds to a specific office wall jack. The cables are not labeled. Which tool should you use?

Accepted Answer

Toner probe. This question assesses understanding of cable identification tools. A toner probe emits a tone that can be traced along a cable, allowing you to locate the correct cable at the patch panel without disrupting service.

Answer

Cable tester

Answer

Multimeter

Answer

Loopback plug

Question 13

A customer complains that their Wi-Fi signal is weak in a specific conference room. You need to measure the signal strength and identify potential interference sources. Which tool is best suited for this task?

Accepted Answer

Wi-Fi analyzer. This question tests knowledge of wireless site survey tools. A Wi-Fi analyzer can measure signal strength, detect interference, and identify channel usage, making it ideal for diagnosing weak Wi-Fi in a specific area.

Answer

Spectrum analyzer

Answer

Cable tester

Answer

Multimeter

Question 14

You are deploying a new VoIP phone and need to ensure the Ethernet cable from the wall jack to the phone is properly terminated and has no shorts. The cable appears to be wired correctly but you want to confirm. Which tool should you use?

Accepted Answer

Cable tester. This question tests understanding of cable verification tools. A cable tester checks for continuity, shorts, and proper wiring, making it essential for verifying Ethernet cable integrity before deploying a VoIP phone.

Answer

Toner probe

Answer

Loopback plug

Answer

Multimeter

Question 15

A user reports intermittent network drops. You suspect the issue might be with the network interface card (NIC) itself. You need to test the NIC's ability to send and receive data without connecting it to the network. Which tool should you use?

Accepted Answer

Loopback plug. This question tests knowledge of NIC testing tools. A loopback plug allows the NIC to send and receive its own signal, verifying its functionality without needing a live network connection.

Answer

Cable tester

Answer

Toner probe

Answer

Multimeter