A network technician changes the company's subnet mask from 255.255.255.0 to 255.255.0.0 to accommodate network growth. All workstations use DHCP except one file server that has a static IP address of 192.168.1.50 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and default gateway 192.168.1.1. After the change, a user reports that they cannot access the file server. The user's workstation obtains its IP via DHCP and can access the internet. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the issue?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Distractor review
A
The user's workstation receives its IP and subnet mask automatically via DHCP, so its subnet mask should be correct. This is not the cause.
Distractor review
B
The file server's default gateway (192.168.1.1) is still correct even after the subnet mask change, as the router's IP remains on the same subnet. This is not the cause.
Best answer
C
The file server's static subnet mask (255.255.255.0) was not updated to match the new network mask (255.255.0.0). This mismatch prevents proper local communication between the server and workstations that now have a /16 mask.
Distractor review
D
DNS settings are unrelated to reaching a device by IP address. The user is trying to reach the file server by IP, not hostname, so incorrect DNS is not the issue.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A user reports intermittent network connectivity on a desktop computer. The technician observes that the Ethernet link light on the NIC turns off for a few seconds and then turns back on. The cable passes a wiremap test, the switch port is verified good with another device, and the NIC driver is updated. The issue occurs more frequently when the computer's case fan runs at high speed. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
Question 2
A workstation is unable to connect to the internet. The technician runs the 'ipconfig' command and sees the IPv4 address is 169.254.15.200 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. The workstation can ping other devices on the local subnet but cannot ping the default gateway or any external addresses. Which TWO actions should the technician take to resolve this issue? (Select two.)
Question 3
A workstation is connected to a managed switch. It obtains a valid IP address (192.168.10.50) from the DHCP server, but it cannot ping the default gateway (192.168.10.1). The link light on both the workstation NIC and the switch port are solid green. Other workstations on the same switch CAN ping the default gateway successfully. The technician accesses the switch management interface and finds that the workstation's port is configured as an access port on VLAN 10. The default gateway is located on VLAN 20. An inter-VLAN router is configured but not explicitly allowing VLAN 10 access to VLAN 20. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the problem?
Question 4
A company develops a web application that relies on a custom library available only for a specific Linux distribution. They want to deploy the application in the cloud with minimal administrative overhead, but they need full control over the software stack, including the ability to install the custom library and configure the web server. Which cloud service model BEST meets these requirements?
Question 5
A company has a legacy virtual machine running on a deprecated hypervisor (Hyper-V). They want to migrate this VM to a new hypervisor (VMware vSphere) hosted in a private cloud while preserving the VM's configuration, installed applications, and data. The migration must be performed with minimal downtime. Which of the following methods is MOST appropriate?
Question 6
A company hosts a critical database on a virtual machine in a public cloud. The database requires persistent storage that must be retained even if the VM is terminated. The storage must also be accessible from multiple VMs simultaneously for a future high-availability configuration. Which type of cloud storage BEST meets these requirements?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1101 question test?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: C — When the subnet mask is changed on the network, all devices must have matching subnet masks to communicate directly. The file server still has the old /24 subnet mask (255.255.255.0), which limits its local broadcast domain to 192.168.1.0-255. Workstations now have a /16 subnet mask (255.255.0.0), so they consider 192.168.x.x as local. However, if a workstation has an IP like 192.168.2.10, the file server sees that address as non-local and sends traffic to the default gateway, while the workstation sends directly. This mismatch breaks communication. The solution is to update the file server's subnet mask to 255.255.0.0.
What should I do if I get this 220-1101 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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