The answer is to replace all switches with managed switches and enable QoS. This is correct because VoIP call quality depends on minimizing latency, jitter, and packet loss, all of which spike when high bandwidth utilization saturates a flat subnet without traffic prioritization. Quality of Service (QoS) configuration allows managed switches to mark voice packets as high-priority, ensuring they are forwarded ahead of bulk data traffic even during peak hours. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your understanding that QoS is the primary tool for improving real-time application performance on congested networks, and a common trap is to suggest simply adding bandwidth or using VLANs alone—while VLANs help segment traffic, they do not prioritize it. Remember the memory tip: “QoS gives voice the right-of-way, VLANs just give it its own lane.”
220-1101 Network Configuration Concepts Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of network configuration concepts. 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 company deploys a new VoIP system. Users report that calls drop frequently. The network uses a single flat subnet with no QoS configured. The technician monitors traffic and sees high bandwidth utilization during peak hours. What is the most effective solution to improve call quality?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Replace all switches with managed switches and enable QoS
This question tests knowledge of Quality of Service (QoS) and network segmentation. VoIP traffic is sensitive to latency and jitter. Implementing QoS prioritizes voice traffic over other data, ensuring call quality even during high utilization. VLANs can also help by separating voice and data traffic.
Key principle: A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Increase the bandwidth of the internet connection
Why it's wrong here
More bandwidth may help but does not guarantee voice quality; without QoS, voice packets still compete with data and may be dropped.
✓
Replace all switches with managed switches and enable QoS
Why this is correct
Managed switches with QoS can prioritize VoIP traffic, reducing latency and jitter, which directly improves call quality.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
✗
Change all VoIP phones to use static IP addresses
Why it's wrong here
Static IPs do not affect call quality; they only prevent IP address changes. They do not address bandwidth contention.
✗
Disable DHCP on the network to reduce broadcast traffic
Why it's wrong here
Disabling DHCP would cause connectivity issues and not solve the voice quality problem; broadcasts are not the primary cause.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
→Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
→Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
→Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
Key takeaway
A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
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 VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 220-1201 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
Network Configuration Concepts — This question tests Network Configuration Concepts — Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Replace all switches with managed switches and enable QoS — This question tests knowledge of Quality of Service (QoS) and network segmentation. VoIP traffic is sensitive to latency and jitter. Implementing QoS prioritizes voice traffic over other data, ensuring call quality even during high utilization. VLANs can also help by separating voice and data traffic.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 220-1201 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
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