220-1201 Practice Test 34 — 15 Questions

Question 1

During a network upgrade, a technician configures a new VoIP phone to use a dedicated VLAN for voice traffic. After connecting the phone to a switch port configured for voice VLAN, the phone powers on but cannot register with the call manager. The switch port is set to trunk mode. Which protocol is essential for the phone to obtain its VLAN assignment?

Choose an answer to begin — your selection is scored in the full session.

Accepted Answer

LLDP. Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) is essential because it allows the switch to inform the VoIP phone of the configured voice VLAN ID. When a switch port is in trunk mode, the phone uses LLDP (specifically LLDP-MED) to learn which VLAN to tag its voice traffic with, enabling it to communicate with the call manager. Without LLDP, the phone would not know which VLAN to use and would fail to register.

Answer

STP

Answer

RSTP

Answer

GVRP

Question 2

A technician is upgrading a workstation from a dual-core CPU to a quad-core CPU. After installation, the system boots but only shows two cores in the operating system. The technician has already verified the CPU is properly seated. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The motherboard BIOS is outdated and does not fully support the new CPU. When a CPU is upgraded but the OS only detects the original core count, the most likely cause is that the motherboard BIOS does not fully support the new CPU's core configuration. An outdated BIOS may recognize the CPU but not enable all cores. Updating the BIOS typically resolves this.

Answer

The CPU is counterfeit and only has two functional cores

Answer

The operating system is limited to two cores due to licensing

Answer

The CPU cooler is too tight, causing physical damage to the CPU

Question 3

A technician is upgrading a workstation from a 500 GB HDD to a 1 TB SSD. After installing the SSD, the system boots into the old OS from the HDD instead of the new SSD. The boot order in UEFI shows only the HDD. What is the most likely reason?

Accepted Answer

The SSD is not partitioned with GPT or lacks an EFI system partition. For a UEFI system to boot from a new SSD, the drive must be initialized with a GPT partition scheme and contain an EFI System Partition (ESP) holding the bootloader. A blank or MBR-partitioned SSD will not appear as a bootable UEFI device, so the firmware falls back to the still-connected HDD. The boot order showing only the HDD confirms the SSD lacks a recognized EFI boot entry.

Answer

The SSD is not connected to the fastest SATA port

Answer

The HDD has a higher priority in the boot order

Answer

The SSD needs a firmware update

Question 4

A user complains that their VoIP phone intermittently loses connectivity. The phone is connected to a switch via a 50-meter run of solid-core Cat6 cable. You suspect interference from nearby fluorescent lights. Which cabling characteristic is most relevant to this issue?

Accepted Answer

The cable is not shielded (STP).. Fluorescent lights generate electromagnetic interference (EMI), which can disrupt data transmission over unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling. Shielded twisted-pair (STP) cable includes a conductive shield that protects against EMI, making it the relevant characteristic for this issue. The user's intermittent connectivity is likely caused by EMI coupling onto the UTP cable, and using STP would mitigate this.

Answer

The cable is not properly terminated with RJ45 connectors.

Answer

The cable length exceeds the maximum for Cat6.

Answer

The cable is a crossover cable.

Question 5

A technician is troubleshooting a network drop that was working yesterday but now has no link light. The cable run is 90 meters and uses Cat5e. The patch cables and switch ports have been tested and are fine. What is the most likely issue?

Accepted Answer

The cable has been cut or damaged.. Since the cable run is 90 meters (within the 100-meter maximum for Cat5e), the patch cables and switch ports are verified working, and the link light is absent, the most likely cause is physical damage to the cable—such as a cut, pinch, or break—that interrupts the electrical continuity required for link pulses. A damaged cable prevents the switch and NIC from establishing a link, even if all other components are functional.

Answer

The cable is too long for Cat5e.

Answer

The network switch is not powered on.

Answer

The cable is terminated with the wrong standard.

Question 6

A user's workstation has intermittent connectivity issues. You suspect the Ethernet cable might be damaged or improperly terminated. You need to test the cable for continuity, shorts, and correct pinout. Which tool should you use, and what is a key feature of this tool?

Accepted Answer

Cable tester; it can detect split pairs. A cable tester is the correct tool because it verifies continuity, detects shorts, and confirms the correct pinout (e.g., T568A/B) of an Ethernet cable. A key feature is its ability to detect split pairs, which can cause crosstalk and intermittent connectivity even if continuity appears fine, as the pairs are not properly twisted.

Answer

Toner probe; it can measure signal strength

Answer

Multimeter; it can measure resistance

Answer

Loopback plug; it can simulate network traffic

Question 7

You are setting up a new branch office and need to run Ethernet cables through ceiling plenums. You must ensure the cables meet fire safety codes. Which type of cable should you use, and which tool would you use to verify its integrity after installation?

Accepted Answer

Use plenum-rated cable; verify with a cable tester. Plenum-rated cable is required for installation in ceiling plenums because it is made with low-smoke, fire-retardant materials (e.g., FEP or PVDF) that do not emit toxic fumes or support flame spread, meeting fire safety codes such as NFPA 70 (NEC) Article 800. After installation, a cable tester (e.g., a wiremap tester or certification tool like a Fluke DSX) verifies integrity by checking for continuity, shorts, opens, and proper pin-to-pin wiring per T568A/B standards.

Answer

Use PVC cable; verify with a multimeter

Answer

Use shielded cable; verify with a toner probe

Answer

Use fiber optic cable; verify with a loopback plug

Question 8

A technician is deploying an MFP that supports both USB and network connectivity. The office wants all users on the network to be able to print and scan from the device. Which connection method should the technician use?

Accepted Answer

Ethernet connection to the network switch. The Ethernet connection to the network switch allows the MFP to be a shared network resource, enabling all users on the LAN to send print jobs and receive scans directly over TCP/IP. This is the standard method for deploying a multifunction peripheral in a multi-user office environment, as it supports simultaneous access and doesn't rely on a single host. USB, Bluetooth, and parallel connections are all point-to-point and cannot provide the required shared access.

Answer

USB connection to a single workstation

Answer

Bluetooth connection to each user's device

Answer

Parallel port connection to a print server

Question 9

A technician needs to install a CPU that supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory on a new motherboard. The motherboard manual lists support for only DDR5. Which of the following is the best course of action?

Accepted Answer

Install DDR5 RAM as the motherboard supports it. The motherboard determines the memory type, not the CPU. Even if the CPU's integrated memory controller supports both DDR4 and DDR5, the motherboard's physical DIMM slots and electrical design are keyed for only one type. Since the manual specifies DDR5 support only, DDR5 RAM is the only compatible choice. Installing DDR4 would be physically impossible or electrically incompatible.

Answer

Install DDR4 RAM because the CPU supports it

Answer

Update the BIOS to enable DDR4 support

Answer

Use a different CPU that only supports DDR5

Question 10

A company's internal website is accessible by IP address but not by its hostname. The website is hosted on a server with a static IP. Which service is most likely misconfigured?

Accepted Answer

DNS. DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses; if the site works by IP but not by hostname, name resolution is failing, which points to a DNS misconfiguration such as a missing or incorrect A record, wrong zone, or unreachable DNS server. The static IP working confirms the web server and network path are fine, isolating the fault to name resolution.

Answer

DHCP

Answer

NAT

Answer

RADIUS

Question 11

A technician is setting up a new office network with 50 devices. The network must support growth up to 100 devices. The technician chooses a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. How many usable host addresses does this subnet provide?

Accepted Answer

254. A /24 subnet mask (255.255.255.0) leaves 8 host bits, giving 2^8 = 256 total addresses. Subtracting the network address and the broadcast address leaves 254 usable host addresses. This comfortably supports the current 50 devices and the planned growth to 100 devices.

Answer

255

Answer

256

Answer

128

Question 12

A technician is deploying a wireless network in a large warehouse and needs to ensure seamless roaming for handheld scanners as workers move between access points. Which technology should the technician configure to support this requirement?

Accepted Answer

Implement 802.11r Fast Roaming.. 802.11r Fast Roaming (also known as Fast BSS Transition) is the correct technology because it reduces the time required for a client device to re-authenticate and reassociate when moving between access points. In a large warehouse with handheld scanners, this minimizes latency and prevents disconnections during active sessions, ensuring seamless roaming. The other options either address security or basic connectivity but do not specifically optimize the handoff process.

Answer

Enable WPA2-PSK with AES encryption.

Answer

Set all access points to the same SSID and password.

Answer

Use a wireless controller with load balancing.

Question 13

A small office uses a cable internet connection with a DOCSIS 3.0 modem. Users complain that speeds drop significantly during peak evening hours. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Neighborhood congestion from shared bandwidth.. DOCSIS 3.0 cable internet uses a shared coaxial line to the neighborhood node. During peak evening hours, many subscribers contend for the same upstream and downstream channels, causing throughput to drop due to congestion. This is a classic symptom of shared bandwidth in cable broadband, not a device-level issue.

Answer

The modem's firmware is out of date.

Answer

The office's router is overheating.

Answer

The ISP is performing maintenance every evening.

Question 14

A technician is setting up a new VoIP phone system. To ensure voice quality, they need to prioritize voice traffic over data traffic on the network. Which QoS configuration method should be implemented?

Accepted Answer

Configure DSCP markings on the VoIP traffic. DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point) markings allow VoIP traffic to be classified and prioritized at Layer 3, ensuring low latency and jitter for voice packets. By marking VoIP packets with a specific DSCP value (e.g., EF for expedited forwarding), routers and switches can apply QoS policies to give voice traffic priority over data traffic. This is the standard method for QoS in VoIP deployments.

Answer

Set the VoIP phones to use a static IP address

Answer

Enable VLAN tagging on the switch ports

Answer

Use a crossover cable between the phone and switch

Question 15

A network administrator is deploying a new wireless network that requires users to authenticate using their domain credentials. The network uses WPA2-Enterprise. Which service must be configured to validate these credentials?

Accepted Answer

RADIUS. WPA2-Enterprise uses 802.1X authentication, which requires a RADIUS server to validate domain credentials against an authentication backend such as Active Directory. The RADIUS server acts as the Authentication Server (AS) in the 802.1X framework, receiving EAP packets from the access point and verifying the user's credentials before granting network access.

Answer

DHCP

Answer

DNS

Answer

NTP