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220-1201 Practice Question: That when they scan a document to email from the…
A user reports that when they scan a document to email from the office multifunction printer, the email never arrives. The printer shows a 'Connection to SMTP server failed' error. What is the most likely cause?
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
✓
The SMTP server address or port is configured incorrectly.
This question tests knowledge of scan-to-email configuration. The SMTP server address or authentication credentials are the most common issues when a multifunction device cannot send email. Checking the SMTP settings in the printer's network configuration should resolve the problem.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The printer's IP address is set to static.
Why it's wrong here
Setting a printer's IP address to static is a common and often recommended practice for network devices, ensuring consistent network accessibility and simplifying management. A static IP address does not inherently interfere with the printer's ability to connect to external services like an SMTP server for sending email. The network configuration for a static IP is distinct from the application-layer settings required for email transmission, meaning this setting would not cause a scan-to-email failure.
- ✓
The SMTP server address or port is configured incorrectly.
Why this is correct
The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server address and port are critical configuration parameters for a multifunction printer to send emails, such as those generated by a scan-to-email function. If the SMTP server hostname, IP address, or the designated port (commonly 25, 465 for SMTPS, or 587 for submission) is incorrect, the printer will be unable to establish a connection with the mail server. This misconfiguration directly prevents the successful transmission of scanned documents as email attachments, leading to a reported connection failure.
- ✗
The toner cartridge is low.
Why it's wrong here
A low toner cartridge specifically impacts the printer's ability to produce physical prints, resulting in faded output or a complete inability to print. However, the toner level has no bearing on the printer's network connectivity or its capacity to perform scanning operations and transmit data via email. Scan-to-email functionality is a digital process that does not require toner, making a low toner warning irrelevant to email transmission failures.
- ✗
The printer is out of paper.
Why it's wrong here
Running out of paper prevents the printer from performing any print jobs, as there is no medium for the ink or toner to be applied to. Nevertheless, the absence of paper does not affect the scanner's operation or the network interface's ability to send data. Scan-to-email is a purely digital workflow that captures an image and sends it over the network, entirely independent of the paper tray's status or the printing mechanism.
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Learn chapter
Mobile Device Types and Features
Key term
Multifunction Printer
A multifunction printer is a single device that combines printing, scanning, copying, and sometimes faxing into one machine.
Key term
SMTP
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the standard internet protocol used to send emails from a client to a server or between email servers.
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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.