easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A user complains that they can browse the…
A user complains that they can browse the internet but cannot access network shares on a file server by hostname, though they can access them by IP address. The DNS server is responding to queries for other domains. Which protocol is most likely malfunctioning?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers assume DNS is the only name resolution protocol and overlook NetBIOS, which is specifically used for legacy Windows file sharing and can fail independently of DNS.
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
✓
NetBIOS
The user can access network shares by IP address but not by hostname, which indicates a name resolution failure specific to NetBIOS. NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NBT) is responsible for resolving NetBIOS names (used for file and printer sharing on Windows networks) to IP addresses. Since DNS works for other domains but not for the file server's hostname, the issue is likely with NetBIOS name resolution, not DNS.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
HTTP
Why it's wrong here
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) operates at the Application layer and is essential for web browsing. The problem statement explicitly mentions the user *can* browse the internet, which directly implies that HTTP is functioning correctly. If HTTP were the issue, the user would be unable to access any web content, regardless of whether they used hostnames or IP addresses, making it an incorrect diagnosis for a hostname-specific problem.
- ✓
NetBIOS
Why this is correct
NetBIOS (Network Basic Input/Output System) provides name resolution services primarily within local area networks, allowing devices to locate each other by name rather than IP address. If a user can successfully browse the internet using IP addresses but fails to access other network resources when using their hostnames, it indicates a specific failure in name-to-IP resolution. This scenario points directly to a malfunctioning NetBIOS name service, as it would prevent the translation of local hostnames into their corresponding IP addresses, while direct IP access bypasses this layer.
- ✗
DHCP
Why it's wrong here
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is responsible for automatically assigning IP addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, and DNS server information to network devices. If DHCP were failing, the user would likely not have a valid IP configuration at all, preventing any internet browsing or network communication. Since the user *can* browse the internet, it confirms that their device has successfully obtained a valid IP address and related network settings, indicating DHCP is functioning correctly.
- ✗
ARP
Why it's wrong here
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) operates at the Data Link layer and is crucial for mapping IP addresses to physical MAC addresses within a local network segment. If ARP were failing, the device would be unable to communicate with *any* other device on the local network, including the default gateway, making all network traffic impossible. Since the user can browse the internet, meaning traffic is successfully leaving the local network, ARP is clearly functioning correctly for basic IP communication, thus it is not the source of a hostname resolution issue.
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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.