The answer is a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), because it is specifically designed to connect multiple buildings across a campus or city-sized area with private, high-speed links, making it ideal for sharing patient records and imaging data across a hospital campus. A MAN bridges the gap between a Local Area Network (LAN), which is confined to a single building, and a Wide Area Network (WAN), which spans cities or countries, offering the necessary coverage and performance for this scenario. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your ability to match network types to physical scope and use cases; a common trap is confusing a MAN with a WAN due to the word “metropolitan,” but remember that a MAN covers a campus or city, not a region. For a quick memory tip, think “MAN = Metro Area = Multiple buildings on one campus,” and contrast it with “WAN = Wide = World or country.”
220-1101 Network Types Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of network types. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 hospital needs to connect multiple buildings across a large campus to share patient records and imaging data. The network must be private, high-speed, and cover the entire campus. Which network type should be implemented?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
A MAN is designed to cover a campus or city-sized area, providing high-speed connectivity between multiple buildings. A LAN is too limited to a single building, a WAN is for much larger distances (often across cities/countries), and a PAN is for personal devices. The hospital campus scenario fits a MAN.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Local Area Network (LAN)
Why it's wrong here
A LAN typically covers a single building or floor, not a large campus with multiple buildings.
✗
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Why it's wrong here
A WAN is used for connecting sites across cities or countries, which is overkill and may introduce latency for a campus.
✓
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Why this is correct
A MAN is ideal for connecting multiple buildings within a campus or city, providing high-speed private connectivity.
A PAN is for short-range connections between personal devices, not for an entire campus.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
KKey Concepts to Remember
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.
TExam Day Tips
→Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
→Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
→Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 220-1201 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
Network Types — This question tests Network Types — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) — A MAN is designed to cover a campus or city-sized area, providing high-speed connectivity between multiple buildings. A LAN is too limited to a single building, a WAN is for much larger distances (often across cities/countries), and a PAN is for personal devices. The hospital campus scenario fits a MAN.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 220-1201 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A school district with five elementary schools spread across a city needs to connect each school's LAN to a central data center for internet access and shared resources. Which network type should connect the schools to the data center?
medium
A.Local Area Network (LAN)
B.Wide Area Network (WAN)
✓ C.Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
D.Personal Area Network (PAN)
Why C: A MAN is designed to connect multiple locations within a city or metropolitan area, making it ideal for a school district. A LAN is too limited to a single building, a WAN is for larger geographic areas (like across states), and a PAN is for personal devices. The correct answer is MAN because it covers the city-wide scope.
Variation 2. A company is expanding its office to a new building 5 kilometers away and needs to connect the two LANs so employees can share files and access the same servers as if they were in one location. They want a dedicated, high-speed connection without using the public internet. Which network type should be implemented?
medium
A.Local Area Network (LAN)
B.Wide Area Network (WAN)
✓ C.Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
D.Personal Area Network (PAN)
Why C: A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is designed to connect multiple LANs within a city-sized area, typically using fiber optic or leased lines, providing high-speed dedicated connectivity. This fits the requirement of connecting two buildings 5 km apart without relying on the public internet. A WAN would be too broad, a LAN is too small, and a PAN is too short-range.
Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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