220-1101 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Practice Question
A user reports that their desktop computer can connect to the internet but cannot access a specific internal website hosted on a server with IP 192.168.1.200. Other users in the same office can access the website normally. The technician pings the server IP from the affected computer and gets a successful reply. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often jump to DNS resolution (Option A) because the issue involves accessing a website by name, but the successful ping to the IP proves the network layer works, and the hosts file is a more direct client-side override that can cause exactly this symptom.
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 hosts file on the computer.
The hosts file on a local computer can override DNS resolution for specific hostnames. Since the computer can ping the server IP (192.168.1.200) successfully, network connectivity is fine, but if the hosts file contains an incorrect or outdated entry for the internal website's hostname, the browser will fail to load the site. Checking the hosts file is the logical next step before investigating DNS or firewall issues.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
DNS resolution for the internal website.
Why it's wrong here
Since the user can access the internet and ping the server by IP, DNS is likely working. However, if the website is accessed by hostname, DNS could be a factor, but the hosts file check is more direct.
When this WOULD be correct
A user cannot access a website by its hostname (e.g., intranet.company.com) but can access it by IP address. Other users can access by hostname. In that case, DNS resolution for the internal website would be the correct next check.
- ✗
Firewall settings on the server.
Why it's wrong here
If the server's firewall were blocking the user, it would likely affect pings or other services, and other users would also be affected. Given other users can access the site, the server firewall is not the issue.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician cannot ping a server from any computer, and other users also cannot access the internal website. In that scenario, checking firewall settings on the server would be appropriate to determine if it is blocking traffic.
- ✓
The hosts file on the computer.
Why this is correct
The hosts file resides in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts on Windows and /etc/hosts on Linux/macOS. It is checked before DNS: when a browser requests a hostname, the OS consults this file first, and any mapping found overrides DNS. A malformed or malicious entry for the specific website could point it to 127.0.0.1 or an unresponsive IP, breaking access solely on this computer while other users resolve normally via DNS.
- ✗
The default gateway configuration.
Why it's wrong here
The default gateway is the router that forwards traffic to external networks. Since the user can reach the internet, the gateway is clearly up and correctly configured—a faulty gateway would prevent all external access, not just one website. Moreover, the user can ping the internal server by IP, which confirms that local subnet routing and the gateway's forwarding for private traffic are intact. The symptom of a single unresolvable hostname points to hostname resolution, not IP routing.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 220-1101 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓The hosts file on the computer.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The hosts file resides in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts on Windows and /etc/hosts on Linux/macOS. It is checked before DNS: when a browser requests a hostname, the OS consults this file first, and any mapping found overrides DNS. A malformed or malicious entry for the specific website could point it to 127.0.0.1 or an unresponsive IP, breaking access solely on this computer while other users resolve normally via DNS.
✗DNS resolution for the internal website.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The ping to 192.168.1.200 succeeded, indicating network connectivity and that the server is reachable. DNS resolution is not needed for accessing a website by IP address, so DNS is not the issue.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user cannot access a website by its hostname (e.g., intranet.company.com) but can access it by IP address. Other users can access by hostname. In that case, DNS resolution for the internal website would be the correct next check.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often assume that internal website access relies on DNS, but here the problem is with accessing by IP, so DNS is irrelevant. The ping success misleads them into thinking DNS is the next logical step.
✗Firewall settings on the server.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The technician already confirmed connectivity to the server via ping, so server-side firewall issues would not allow successful ICMP replies. The problem is specific to the affected computer, not the server.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician cannot ping a server from any computer, and other users also cannot access the internal website. In that scenario, checking firewall settings on the server would be appropriate to determine if it is blocking traffic.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume that access issues are always due to server-side firewalls, overlooking that the ping success indicates network-level reachability and that the problem is client-specific.
Analysis generated from the official 220-1101blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 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 220-1101 exam.