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220-1201 Practice Question: A small office uses a single router with four…
A small office uses a single router with four switch ports. Users on port 4 cannot access the internet, but they can communicate with each other. Port 4's LED is solid green. What is the most likely cause?
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
✓
Port 4 is assigned to a different VLAN without internet access.
This scenario tests understanding of VLANs and router configuration. Inter-VLAN routing is required for different VLANs to reach the internet. If port 4 is on a different VLAN without a route to the internet, users can talk locally but not externally.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Port 4 is administratively disabled.
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect. An administratively disabled port is a port that has been shut down via software configuration, typically through a command-line interface or web management. Such a port would not show a solid green LED; instead, its link light would typically be off, indicating no active physical connection or data transfer capability. The solid green LED explicitly contradicts a disabled state.
- ✗
The cable on port 4 is faulty.
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect. A faulty cable would typically manifest as a complete loss of link, intermittent connectivity, or a high rate of transmission errors, often indicated by a flashing or absent link light. Since users on Port 4 can communicate locally, it confirms that a stable physical link exists and basic data transmission is occurring. Therefore, the cable itself is unlikely to be the sole cause of only internet access issues.
- ✓
Port 4 is assigned to a different VLAN without internet access.
Why this is correct
This is the correct answer. If Port 4 is assigned to a different Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) that lacks a configured default gateway or routing path to the internet, devices connected to it will be isolated from external networks. While local communication within that specific VLAN would still be possible, any attempt to reach resources outside its broadcast domain, such as the internet, would fail due to the absence of a proper routing mechanism.
- ✗
The router's DHCP pool is exhausted.
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect. If the router's DHCP pool were exhausted, new devices attempting to connect would fail to obtain an IP address, preventing them from communicating on any part of the network, including locally. The fact that users on Port 4 can communicate locally indicates they have successfully obtained valid IP addresses and network configurations, ruling out DHCP exhaustion as the problem.
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JA
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.