- A
The printer's Ethernet cable is faulty.
Why wrong: A faulty cable would likely cause the LED to be off or amber, not blinking green. The blinking green indicates active traffic.
- B
The printer has an IP address conflict with another device.
An IP address conflict can cause the printer to be unreachable even though the physical connection is good. The switch LED blinks because the printer is sending frames, but the IP stack may be disabled due to the conflict.
- C
The switch port is administratively down.
Why wrong: If the port were administratively down, the LED would be off, not blinking green. The port is clearly active.
- D
The printer's print spooler service is stopped.
Why wrong: A stopped print spooler would affect printing, but the printer would still respond to pings if its network stack is functional.
Quick Answer
The answer is an IP address conflict, as this directly explains why a blinking green switch port LED (indicating traffic) coincides with a failed ping to the printer. When two devices share the same IP address, the network becomes confused about where to send data, causing one or both devices to drop packets or become unresponsive—hence the printer appears offline even though its physical connection is active. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your ability to differentiate between physical link issues (like a dead port or cable) and logical addressing problems; a common trap is assuming a blinking LED guarantees a working device. Remember the memory tip: “Blinking light, no reply? Duplicate IP is the lie.”
220-1101 Common Networking Hardware Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of common networking hardware. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 customer reports that their network printer is not accessible from any computer on the network. The printer is connected to a switch via Ethernet, and the switch port LED is blinking green. The technician pings the printer's IP address from a computer and gets no reply. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 printer has an IP address conflict with another device.
This question tests understanding of network connectivity and switch port status. A blinking green LED typically indicates traffic, but the ping failure suggests the printer is not responding. The most likely cause is that the printer has a static IP address that conflicts with another device on the network, or the printer's network settings are misconfigured. The correct answer is an IP address conflict.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 Ethernet cable is faulty.
Why it's wrong here
A faulty cable would likely cause the LED to be off or amber, not blinking green. The blinking green indicates active traffic.
- ✓
The printer has an IP address conflict with another device.
Why this is correct
An IP address conflict can cause the printer to be unreachable even though the physical connection is good. The switch LED blinks because the printer is sending frames, but the IP stack may be disabled due to the conflict.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The switch port is administratively down.
Why it's wrong here
If the port were administratively down, the LED would be off, not blinking green. The port is clearly active.
- ✗
The printer's print spooler service is stopped.
Why it's wrong here
A stopped print spooler would affect printing, but the printer would still respond to pings if its network stack is functional.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
- →
Common Networking Hardware — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Common Networking Hardware practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 study guide
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220-1201 practice test guide
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Common Networking Hardware — This question tests Common Networking Hardware — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The printer has an IP address conflict with another device. — This question tests understanding of network connectivity and switch port status. A blinking green LED typically indicates traffic, but the ping failure suggests the printer is not responding. The most likely cause is that the printer has a static IP address that conflicts with another device on the network, or the printer's network settings are misconfigured. The correct answer is an IP address conflict.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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.
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