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220-1201 Practice Question: A small office uses a single router with four…
A small office uses a single router with four switch ports. Users on port 4 cannot access the internet, but they can communicate with each other. Port 4's LED is solid green. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is overlooking VLAN misconfiguration when local connectivity works but internet fails; candidates may blame DHCP or cabling, but the exam tests that VLAN assignment can isolate a port from the internet.
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
✓
Port 4 is assigned to a different VLAN without internet access.
If users on port 4 can communicate with each other but cannot access the internet, and the LED is solid green, the port is likely assigned to a different VLAN that lacks a route to the internet. Solid green indicates physical link is up, so the cable and port are functional.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Port 4 is administratively disabled.
Why it's wrong here
An administratively disabled port is a port that has been shut down via software configuration, typically through a command-line interface or web management. Such a port would not show a solid green LED; instead, its link light would typically be off, indicating no active physical connection or data transfer capability. The solid green LED explicitly contradicts a disabled state.
- ✗
The cable on port 4 is faulty.
Why it's wrong here
A faulty cable would typically manifest as a complete loss of link, intermittent connectivity, or a high rate of transmission errors, often indicated by a flashing or absent link light. Since users on Port 4 can communicate locally, it confirms that a stable physical link exists and basic data transmission is occurring. Therefore, the cable itself is unlikely to be the sole cause of only internet access issues.
- ✓
Port 4 is assigned to a different VLAN without internet access.
Why this is correct
This is the correct answer. If Port 4 is assigned to a different Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) that lacks a configured default gateway or routing path to the internet, devices connected to it will be isolated from external networks. While local communication within that specific VLAN would still be possible, any attempt to reach resources outside its broadcast domain, such as the internet, would fail due to the absence of a proper routing mechanism.
- ✗
The router's DHCP pool is exhausted.
Why it's wrong here
If the router's DHCP pool were exhausted, new devices attempting to connect would fail to obtain an IP address, preventing them from communicating on any part of the network, including locally. The fact that users on Port 4 can communicate locally indicates they have successfully obtained valid IP addresses and network configurations, ruling out DHCP exhaustion as the problem.
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Related to this question
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Common Ports and Protocols for A+
Key term
VLAN
A VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) is a logical grouping of network devices that behave as if they are on the same physical network segment, regardless of their actual physical location.
Key term
Switch
A switch is a networking device that connects devices on a local area network and uses MAC addresses to forward data only to the intended recipient.
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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.