This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of network services. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician needs to configure a router to allow internal users to access a web server on the internet using a public IP address. The web server is hosted internally on a private IP. Which network service must be configured on the router?
DNS
Why wrong: DNS resolves hostnames to IPs but doesn't translate private to public addresses.
DHCP
Why wrong: DHCP assigns IPs to clients, not for external access to internal servers.
NAT
NAT (specifically port forwarding) maps the public IP to the internal server's private IP.
RADIUS
Why wrong: RADIUS is for authentication, not IP address translation.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
NAT
This question tests knowledge of NAT. Network Address Translation (NAT) translates private IPs to public IPs and vice versa, enabling internal servers to be reachable from the internet. DNS resolves names, but NAT handles the IP translation.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Common exam traps
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 220-1201 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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FAQ
Network Services — This question tests Network Services — Authentication checks who the user is..
The correct answer is: NAT — This question tests knowledge of NAT. Network Address Translation (NAT) translates private IPs to public IPs and vice versa, enabling internal servers to be reachable from the internet. DNS resolves names, but NAT handles the IP translation.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 220-1201 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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