hardMultiple Choice
220-1102 Practice Question: A technician is setting up a virtual machine for…
A technician is setting up a virtual machine for a software developer who needs to test an application on multiple operating systems. The host runs Windows 10 Pro with 32 GB of RAM and a quad-core CPU. The developer wants the VM to have direct access to a USB security dongle. Which configuration step is essential to meet this requirement?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse VM enhancements (like shared folders and mouse smoothing) with the ability to pass through hardware devices, leading them to select Option C instead of the correct USB passthrough configuration.
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
✓
Enable USB controller passthrough in the VM settings.
USB passthrough (or USB controller passthrough) allows the virtual machine to directly access and control a physical USB device, such as a security dongle, bypassing the host operating system. This is essential for applications that require direct hardware-level communication with the dongle for licensing or authentication.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Configure the VM to use dynamic memory.
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic memory adjusts RAM allocation based on workload and has no bearing on USB passthrough. It is tempting because it optimises resource use on a host, which would be relevant when RAM is constrained, but the requirement is direct USB dongle access, handled by attaching the USB device to the VM.
- ✗
Enable virtualization extensions (VT-x/AMD-V) in the host BIOS.
Why it's wrong here
Enabling VT-x or AMD-V is a prerequisite for running virtualisation at all, so it is already required for any VM. It is tempting because it is a genuine BIOS-level virtualisation setting, but it does not provide the USB passthrough the dongle needs; attaching the USB device to the VM does.
- ✗
Install the guest additions or integration services in the VM.
Why it's wrong here
Guest additions or integration services install drivers improving display, mouse and shared folders, but they do not grant direct USB device access. They are tempting because they enhance VM functionality, yet the dongle requires the USB device to be attached or passed through to the VM explicitly.
- ✓
Enable USB controller passthrough in the VM settings.
Why this is correct
USB passthrough forwards the physical USB device from host to guest, giving the VM direct access to the security dongle. Enabling USB 3.0 support or installing guest additions alone does not expose the host-attached dongle to the virtual machine.
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Key term
Windows
Windows is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft that manages computer hardware and software, providing a graphical user interface for users to interact with their devices.
Key term
Windows 10
Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft that combines the familiarity of Windows 7 with the modern features of Windows 8, designed to run on a wide range of devices from desktops to tablets.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 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 220-1202 exam.