mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A server administrator reports that a critical…
A server administrator reports that a critical server is unreachable from the network. The technician can ping the server's IP address from the local subnet but not from a remote subnet. Which command-line tool should be used to identify where packets are being dropped along the path?
⚠ Common exam trap
In CompTIA A+, the distinction between `tracert` (hop-by-hop path discovery) and `pathping` (which adds latency and packet loss statistics over multiple probes) is commonly tested. Candidates may choose `pathping` when the question simply asks for identifying where packets are dropped along the path.
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
✓
tracert
B is correct because `tracert` (or `traceroute` on Linux) uses ICMP Time Exceeded messages to map each hop along the path from source to destination. When a server is reachable locally but not from a remote subnet, `tracert` can pinpoint exactly which router is dropping packets, revealing a routing or firewall issue at that hop.
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 -t
Why it's wrong here
Ping with -t continuously tests reachability but does not show the path or identify where packets are lost.
- ✓
tracert
Why this is correct
Tracert lists each hop along the route and can reveal which hop is failing, allowing the technician to isolate the problem to a specific router or firewall.
- ✗
netstat -r
Why it's wrong here
Netstat -r displays the routing table, not the actual path packets take or where they are dropped.
- ✗
pathping
Why it's wrong here
Pathping does trace the route and calculate packet loss per hop, but it takes longer to complete and is less commonly used for quick troubleshooting than tracert.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Configuration: IP, DNS, DHCP
Key term
Traceroute
Traceroute is a network diagnostic tool that maps the route data packets take from your computer to a destination, showing each intermediate hop and the time taken.
Key term
IP address
An IP address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 220-1201 question from scratch — 972 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.