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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a network where a…
A technician is troubleshooting a network where a user cannot access a web server at 10.0.0.50. The user's workstation has an IP of 10.0.0.25 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. The technician pings 10.0.0.50 and gets a reply, but the web page does not load. What should the technician check next?
⚠ Common exam trap
The A+ exam often tests the distinction between Layer 3 connectivity (ping) and Layer 4+ application access, trapping candidates who assume a successful ping means the service is fully reachable.
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
✓
Check if the web server's firewall is blocking HTTP/HTTPS traffic.
The ping reply confirms Layer 3 connectivity between the workstation and the web server, so the issue is not with IP routing or the default gateway. Since the web page does not load despite successful ICMP echo replies, the problem is likely at Layer 4 or above, such as the web server's firewall blocking HTTP (port 80) or HTTPS (port 443) traffic. The technician should check the server's firewall rules to ensure these ports are open.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Verify the default gateway on the workstation.
Why it's wrong here
Verifying the default gateway is unnecessary and incorrect in this scenario because the default gateway is exclusively used for routing traffic to destinations outside the local subnet. Since ping to the web server is successful, it confirms Layer 3 IP connectivity, indicating the web server is either on the same local subnet or reachable without needing to traverse a router. Therefore, the default gateway configuration is irrelevant to the specific failure of HTTP/HTTPS traffic.
- ✓
Check if the web server's firewall is blocking HTTP/HTTPS traffic.
Why this is correct
Checking the web server's firewall is the correct troubleshooting step because firewalls are designed to selectively permit or deny traffic based on specific port numbers and protocols. It is a common configuration for a server's firewall to allow ICMP (ping) for basic reachability while simultaneously blocking or restricting access to application-layer ports like TCP 80 (HTTP) and TCP 443 (HTTPS), thus preventing web browsing despite successful ping.
- ✗
Change the workstation's IP address to a different subnet.
Why it's wrong here
Changing the workstation's IP address to a different subnet would be counterproductive and incorrect, as it would immediately break all existing network connectivity. For a workstation to communicate directly with a web server, they must reside on the same logical subnet, or communication must be facilitated by a router/gateway. Altering the subnet would prevent even basic Layer 3 communication, causing ping to fail, let alone HTTP/HTTPS access.
- ✗
Replace the network cable between the workstation and switch.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the network cable between the workstation and switch is an incorrect action because a physical layer (Layer 1) issue, such as a faulty cable, would typically result in a complete loss of network connectivity. This would manifest as an inability to establish any communication, including basic ICMP (ping) requests, between the workstation and the web server. Since ping is confirmed to be working, the physical connection is demonstrably sound.
Visual reference
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Mobile Device Connectivity
Key term
Subnet mask
A subnet mask is a 32-bit number that helps a computer or network device determine which part of an IP address identifies the network and which part identifies the host device on that network.
Key term
HTTP
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the set of rules web browsers and servers use to communicate and transfer web pages over the internet.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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