easyMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: A customer reports that their new laptop can…
A customer reports that their new laptop can connect to websites using IP addresses but cannot resolve domain names like 'www.example.com'. Which networking tool should be used to verify the DNS server configuration on the laptop?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between testing DNS resolution (nslookup) and verifying DNS configuration (ipconfig /all), trapping candidates who confuse the symptom-checking tool with the configuration-verification tool.
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 displays the full TCP/IP configuration, including the DNS server addresses assigned to the laptop's network adapter. Since the user can reach websites by IP address but not by domain name, the issue is likely with DNS resolution; ipconfig /all allows verification of whether the DNS server is correctly configured or pointing to an unreachable server.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ping 8.8.8.8
Why it's wrong here
ping to an IP address only confirms ICMP reachability to that host; it bypasses name resolution entirely, so it cannot reveal the laptop's configured DNS servers. It is tempting because ping is the first connectivity test, and this would be correct for proving basic network-layer reachability.
- ✓
ipconfig /all
Why this is correct
ipconfig /all displays the laptop's configured DNS servers alongside IP address, subnet mask and gateway. Comparing those entries against the expected DNS addresses verifies whether misconfiguration prevents domain name resolution while direct IP connectivity still works.
- ✗
nslookup www.example.com
Why it's wrong here
nslookup queries a DNS server and returns the resolved address, which tests resolution rather than displaying the configured server addresses on the adapter. It is tempting because it confirms whether name resolution works, but ipconfig /all is the tool that reveals the DNS server configuration itself.
- ✗
tracert 8.8.8.8
Why it's wrong here
tracert maps the router path to a destination and reports latency per hop; it never queries the configured DNS resolver, so it cannot verify DNS settings. It is tempting because it tests connectivity, and this would be correct for locating where packets are dropped along a route.
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Troubleshoot: DNS Resolution Issues
Key term
CAN
A CAN (Controller Area Network) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.
Key term
Laptop
A portable personal computer that integrates a display, keyboard, touchpad, battery, and internal components into a single clamshell device for mobile computing.
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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.