This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of networking tools. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 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?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Why wrong: Ping with -t continuously tests reachability but does not show the path or identify where packets are lost.
B
tracert
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.
C
netstat -r
Why wrong: Netstat -r displays the routing table, not the actual path packets take or where they are dropped.
D
pathping
Why wrong: 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
tracert
Tracert (or traceroute) sends packets with increasing TTL values to map the route and show where hops fail, pinpointing the router or firewall dropping packets. Ping only tests end-to-end reachability, netstat shows active connections, and pathping combines ping and tracert but is slower.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Ping with -t continuously tests reachability but does not show the path or identify where packets are lost.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related 220-1201 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Networking Tools — This question tests Networking Tools — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: tracert — Tracert (or traceroute) sends packets with increasing TTL values to map the route and show where hops fail, pinpointing the router or firewall dropping packets. Ping only tests end-to-end reachability, netstat shows active connections, and pathping combines ping and tracert but is slower.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related 220-1201 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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