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220-1201 Practice Question: A small office has a single router with four LAN…
A small office has a single router with four LAN ports. The network uses 192.168.1.0/24. A new printer is assigned a static IP of 192.168.1.256. What will happen when the printer is connected?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume 192.168.1.256 is a valid IP address because it looks similar to common private addresses, but the A+ exam tests the fundamental rule that IPv4 octets must be in the range 0–255.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The printer will not be able to communicate on the network
192.168.1.256 is an invalid IPv4 address. In IPv4, each octet is an 8-bit number ranging from 0 to 255. The value 256 exceeds this limit, so the address is malformed. The printer will not be able to communicate on the network because its configured IP is outside the valid address space and cannot be used for any network communication.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The printer will work but only with devices that have a static IP
Why it's wrong here
The printer will not work at all, regardless of whether other devices use static or dynamic IP addresses. An invalid IP address, such as 192.168.1.256, renders the network interface unable to properly establish a connection to the network or route any traffic. Without a valid IP address within the correct subnet range, the printer cannot send or receive data packets, making communication impossible with any device, irrespective of their own IP configuration methods.
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The printer will automatically obtain a valid IP via DHCP
Why it's wrong here
The printer will not automatically obtain a valid IP via DHCP if it has been manually configured with a static IP address, even an invalid one. When a device is set to use a static IP, it bypasses the DHCP discovery process entirely and attempts to use the assigned address. Therefore, the printer will stubbornly try to use 192.168.1.256, which is an invalid address, preventing it from ever requesting or accepting a valid IP from a DHCP server.
- ✓
The printer will not be able to communicate on the network
Why this is correct
The printer will not be able to communicate on the network because 192.168.1.256 is an invalid IP address. In IPv4 addressing, each octet (the numbers separated by dots) must be within the range of 0 to 255, inclusive. The value '256' in the last octet falls outside this permissible range, making the entire address non-routable and unusable for network communication. Consequently, the printer's network interface cannot properly bind to this address, preventing any data transmission or reception.
- ✗
The printer will cause an IP address conflict with the router
Why it's wrong here
The printer will not cause an IP address conflict with the router because an IP conflict occurs when two or more devices on the same network are configured with the exact same *valid* IP address. Since 192.168.1.256 is an invalid IP address, the printer's network interface will not properly bind to it or attempt to use it for communication in a way that would clash with a validly configured device. An invalid address simply prevents the device from participating on the network, rather than creating a conflict.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.