hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is deploying a fleet of tablets for…
A technician is deploying a fleet of tablets for a retail store that uses a captive portal for guest Wi-Fi. After connecting to the Wi-Fi, the tablets do not automatically open the login page. What is the most likely missing configuration?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1201 exam often tests the misconception that a static IP address is always beneficial for reliability, but in captive portal environments, it breaks the DHCP-dependent redirect mechanism that opens the login page.
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 tablets have a static IP address configured.
A captive portal intercepts HTTP traffic and redirects the client to a login page, typically by performing a DNS or HTTP redirect. If the tablet has a static IP address configured, it may not receive the DHCP options (e.g., option 114 for captive portal URL) or the proper DNS server settings, preventing the redirect from functioning. Without a valid DHCP lease, the tablet cannot be redirected to the captive portal login page.
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 tablets have a static IP address configured.
Why this is correct
When tablets are configured with static IP addresses, they bypass the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. Captive portals commonly rely on DHCP to assign an IP address and then intercept DNS requests or HTTP traffic to redirect unauthenticated devices to the portal login page. By not using DHCP, the tablets may not receive the necessary network configurations or redirection instructions from the captive portal system, effectively preventing the portal from appearing or being accessible.
- ✗
The tablets are using a VPN.
Why it's wrong here
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts and tunnels network traffic, but it requires an active and authenticated internet connection to establish. Before a VPN client can connect to its server, the underlying Wi-Fi network must first grant basic network access and an IP address. If a captive portal is present, it will intercept this initial network access, preventing any outbound VPN connection attempts until the user authenticates through the portal.
- ✗
The Wi-Fi network is hidden.
Why it's wrong here
A hidden Wi-Fi network, also known as a non-broadcast SSID, only prevents the network name from being advertised publicly. While it requires manual configuration to connect, once a device successfully authenticates and associates with the hidden access point, the network's captive portal mechanism will still activate. The portal operates at the network layer, intercepting traffic regardless of whether the SSID was broadcast or manually entered.
- ✗
The tablets have Bluetooth disabled.
Why it's wrong here
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless communication standard primarily used for connecting peripheral devices like keyboards, mice, or headsets, or for peer-to-peer data transfer. It operates independently of Wi-Fi and its network protocols. Therefore, disabling Bluetooth on a tablet has no impact whatsoever on its ability to connect to a Wi-Fi network or interact with a captive portal, which functions exclusively within the Wi-Fi and TCP/IP stack.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This 220-1201 question is part of Courseiva's 972-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.