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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is setting up a new file server and…
A technician is setting up a new file server and needs to assign it a static IP address. The network uses a subnet of 192.168.1.0/24, and the router's LAN IP is 192.168.1.1. The technician wants to ensure the server is reachable from all devices on the local network. Which of the following IP addresses should the technician assign to the server?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse the network address (192.168.1.0) or broadcast address (192.168.1.255) as valid host IPs, or they pick an IP from a different subnet (192.168.2.1) thinking it will still work, failing to recognize that devices on different subnets require a router to communicate.
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
✓
192.168.1.50
(192.168.1.50) is correct because it falls within the usable host range of the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet (192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254) and is not reserved for the network address or broadcast address. Assigning this static IP ensures the server is reachable from all devices on the local network, as it is on the same subnet as the router's LAN IP (192.168.1.1).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
192.168.1.0
Why it's wrong here
In a standard Class C private network, such as 192.168.1.0/24, the address 192.168.1.0 is specifically reserved as the network address. This identifier represents the entire subnet itself, not an individual device within it. Assigning the network address to a host would lead to critical network conflicts and prevent proper routing and communication, as it is used by network devices to identify the network segment.
- ✗
192.168.1.255
Why it's wrong here
For a 192.168.1.0/24 network, the address 192.168.1.255 is designated as the broadcast address. This special address is used to send data simultaneously to all devices within that specific subnet, ensuring widespread communication. Assigning the broadcast address to a single host would disrupt network functionality by preventing proper broadcast operations and creating an invalid host configuration.
- ✓
192.168.1.50
Why this is correct
The address 192.168.1.50 falls squarely within the usable host range of 192.168.1.1 through 192.168.1.254 for a standard /24 subnet. This makes it a perfectly valid IP address that can be assigned to a device. For a file server, assigning a static IP address like this is crucial for consistent accessibility and reliable service provision, ensuring clients can always locate it without relying on dynamic assignments.
- ✗
192.168.2.1
Why it's wrong here
The address 192.168.2.1 belongs to a completely different subnet (192.168.2.0/24) than the implied 192.168.1.0/24 network. Devices residing on different subnets cannot communicate directly with each other without an intervening router to forward traffic between them. Assigning this IP would effectively isolate the file server from the intended local network, rendering it inaccessible to clients on the 192.168.1.0 subnet.
Visual reference
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Configuration: IP, DNS, DHCP
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.
Key term
Subnet
A subnet is a logical subdivision of an IP network, created by partitioning a larger network address space using subnet masks.
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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.