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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is setting up a new printer on a…
A technician is setting up a new printer on a network. The printer has a static IP address of 192.168.1.50, but users cannot ping it from their workstations. The workstations are on the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet. What should the technician check first?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates see a static IP and immediately suspect IP configuration (gateway, DHCP) rather than recognizing that same-subnet communication bypasses the gateway entirely, making Layer 1/Layer 2 the correct first check.
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
✓
Verify the switch port status and cable connection.
The printer and workstations are on the same 192.168.1.0/24 subnet, so no default gateway is needed for local communication — the gateway only matters for off-subnet traffic. Since the printer has a valid static IP in the same subnet, the most likely cause of failed pings is a physical or Layer 2 issue, such as an unplugged cable, a disabled switch port, or a bad NIC. Verifying the switch port status and cable connection is the correct first troubleshooting step.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Check the printer's default gateway setting.
Why it's wrong here
The default gateway is a network device, typically a router, that allows devices on a local subnet to communicate with devices on other subnets or the internet. For communication between two devices residing on the same local subnet, the default gateway is not involved. Instead, Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is used to resolve the destination IP address to a MAC address directly on the local segment, making the gateway setting irrelevant for this specific scenario.
- ✓
Verify the switch port status and cable connection.
Why this is correct
Verifying the physical layer components, specifically the switch port status and the integrity of the Ethernet cable, is a crucial first step in troubleshooting network connectivity issues. A faulty or disconnected cable, or a disabled/malfunctioning switch port, will prevent any network communication, regardless of IP configuration. Physical layer problems are frequently the root cause of a device being unreachable, especially when it's a new setup or on the same subnet.
- ✗
Change the printer's IP address to a DHCP address.
Why it's wrong here
Changing the printer's IP address from static to DHCP would not inherently resolve a connectivity issue if the underlying problem is not related to the IP addressing method itself. Both static and dynamically assigned IP addresses are valid for network communication, provided they are correctly configured for the subnet and do not conflict with other devices. If the printer is unreachable, the issue likely lies at a lower layer or with an incorrect IP configuration, not simply whether it's static or dynamic.
- ✗
Reboot the router.
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting the router is an ineffective troubleshooting step for a device connectivity issue within the same local subnet. Routers operate at Layer 3 (network layer) and are primarily responsible for forwarding traffic between different subnets or to the internet. For communication between devices on the same subnet, the traffic does not traverse the router; it remains on the local segment, typically handled by a Layer 2 switch.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.