220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A technician needs to check the IP configuration of a Windows 10 workstation, including the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. Which command-line tool should the technician use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse ipconfig with ping or netstat, thinking that any network diagnostic tool can display IP configuration, but only ipconfig specifically shows the local IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway on Windows.
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
✓
ipconfig
The ipconfig command is the correct tool because it displays the current TCP/IP network configuration values for Windows 10, including the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway for each network adapter. This is the standard command-line utility for viewing and managing IP configuration on Windows systems.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ping
Why it's wrong here
Ping sends ICMP echo request packets to a target host and measures the round-trip time to determine reachability and network latency. This utility tests connectivity to a remote device or the local loopback interface, but it does not query or display the local TCP/IP configuration, such as the IP address, subnet mask, or default gateway. Even pinging 127.0.0.1 only confirms the protocol stack is bound, not what the adapter's configured address is.
- ✗
netstat
Why it's wrong here
Netstat is used to display active TCP/UDP connections, listening ports, Ethernet statistics, and the IPv4/IPv6 routing table on a Windows system. While it may show the local IP address and port for each established session, it does not provide a concise per-adapter summary of the configured IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. Netstat is primarily a troubleshooting tool for connection state and port usage, not for reading the local network configuration.
- ✓
ipconfig
Why this is correct
Ipconfig is the Windows command-line utility designed specifically to display the current TCP/IP network configuration for all installed adapters. Without flags, it shows each adapter's IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, subnet mask, and default gateway, and with /all it additionally lists the MAC address, DHCP lease information, and DNS resolver settings. This makes ipconfig the definitive and fastest way to verify the local IP configuration on a Windows 10 workstation.
- ✗
tracert
Why it's wrong here
Tracert, or traceroute, discovers the path packets take to a destination by sending ICMP echo requests with incrementally increasing Time-to-Live (TTL) values and recording each router hop's response. This tool maps the route from the local machine to a remote host and is useful for identifying latency or packet loss at intermediate nodes, but it does not display the local adapter's IP address, subnet mask, or default gateway. Tracert is entirely focused on the network path rather than on the workstation's own configuration.
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Windows Command Line Tools
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.
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.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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