220-1201 Networking Practice Question
A user reports that they cannot access any websites by typing domain names, but they can access websites by entering IP addresses directly. The technician suspects a DNS issue. Which command should the technician use first to verify the DNS server settings on the user's Windows 10 computer?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is choosing nslookup because it directly relates to DNS, but the question asks to verify DNS server settings, which ipconfig /all provides.
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
✓
ipconfig /all
The ipconfig /all command shows the complete IP configuration, including DNS server addresses, which are essential to verify when name resolution fails. Since the user can reach sites by IP, the problem likely lies with DNS settings or the DNS server itself. Checking the configured DNS servers is the first step before testing resolution with tools like nslookup or ping.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
ipconfig /all
Why this is correct
ipconfig /all displays the full TCP/IP configuration for all adapters, including the DNS servers that are configured. This allows the technician to verify whether the correct DNS server addresses are assigned via DHCP or manually. Since the user can access sites by IP but not by name, checking DNS settings is the logical first step, making this command appropriate.
- ✗
ping
Why it's wrong here
ping is used to test connectivity to a specific host by sending ICMP echo requests. While you could ping a DNS server to see if it responds, it does not show the configured DNS server addresses. The issue is that domain names are not resolving, so the technician needs to see the DNS configuration, not just test reachability. Thus, ping alone is not the best first step.
- ✗
netstat -an
Why it's wrong here
netstat -an displays active connections and listening ports in numeric form. It does not show DNS server settings or help diagnose name resolution problems. While it can be useful for troubleshooting network connections, it is not relevant to verifying DNS configuration. Therefore, it is not the correct command for this scenario.
- ✗
nslookup
Why it's wrong here
nslookup is a tool for querying DNS servers to resolve domain names to IP addresses. While it can help diagnose DNS resolution issues, it does not display the DNS server settings configured on the computer. The technician first needs to verify which DNS servers are configured, so nslookup is not the initial command to use. It could be used later to test resolution.
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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.