220-1101 Networking Practice Question
A small office has a DHCP server that assigns IP addresses in the range 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.200. A file server needs a static IP address of 192.168.1.10. Which method should the technician use to ensure the server always receives that IP address without manually configuring the network adapter on the server?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often think changing the DHCP scope range is sufficient to assign a static IP, but without a reservation or manual static configuration, the server will still request an IP from the pool and receive a different address.
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
✓
Create a DHCP reservation on the router for the server's MAC address
A DHCP reservation binds a specific IP address to a client's MAC address on the DHCP server (often integrated into the router). This ensures the file server always receives 192.168.1.10 from the DHCP server without requiring manual configuration on the server itself, which is the requirement in the question. The reservation works because the DHCP server checks the MAC address in the DHCP request and always offers the reserved IP.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Create a DHCP reservation on the router for the server's MAC address
Why this is correct
A DHCP reservation on the router binds the server's MAC address to 192.168.1.10 within the DHCP scope. When the server requests a lease, the DHCP server checks its reservation table and always offers that same IP, preventing other devices from receiving it and eliminating conflicts. This approach is centrally managed, requires no OS-level manual configuration, and survives the server's NIC being replaced (as long as the MAC is updated in one place).
- ✗
Configure the server with a static IP address of 192.168.1.10 in the operating system settings
Why it's wrong here
Setting a static IP directly in the operating system works but is operationally fragile. If the IP 192.168.1.10 falls within the DHCP scope, the DHCP server may hand that same address to another device later, causing a duplicate IP conflict. Even if placed outside the scope, you must manually track the assignment on the server and ensure it doesn't clash with any other statically configured device; there is no central visibility or automatic conflict prevention.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question required a static IP and did not prohibit manual configuration, or if the DHCP server could not be modified, then setting a static IP on the server would be correct.
- ✗
Change the DHCP range to 192.168.1.11-200 so that .10 is excluded
Why it's wrong here
Changing the DHCP range to begin at 192.168.1.11 only excludes .10 from the pool; it does not assign that address to the server. The server would still need a manual static IP configuration (or another reservation elsewhere), so this approach adds a router-side change while duplicating the drawbacks of static IPs. It also needlessly shrinks the usable DHCP pool and provides no mechanism to automatically give the server the intended address.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question asked for a method to prevent the DHCP server from assigning 192.168.1.10 to other devices, while the server itself is configured with a static IP manually. For example: 'A technician wants to ensure no other device gets the IP 192.168.1.10, which is used by a statically configured server. What should the technician do?'
- ✗
Set up a port forwarding rule for the server
Why it's wrong here
A port forwarding rule is a NAT function that maps an external port to an internal IP and port, directing inbound traffic to that destination. It does nothing to assign or stabilize the server's IP address; it simply assumes the server already has a known, reachable IP. If the server obtains a different address via DHCP, the port forward rule breaks, and the rule offers no protection against lease changes or address conflicts.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician needs to allow external users to access a web server on the internal network at 192.168.1.10. The correct method would be to set up a port forwarding rule on the router to forward incoming HTTP/HTTPS traffic to that server's IP.
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.
✓Create a DHCP reservation on the router for the server's MAC addressCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A DHCP reservation on the router binds the server's MAC address to 192.168.1.10 within the DHCP scope. When the server requests a lease, the DHCP server checks its reservation table and always offers that same IP, preventing other devices from receiving it and eliminating conflicts. This approach is centrally managed, requires no OS-level manual configuration, and survives the server's NIC being replaced (as long as the MAC is updated in one place).
✗Configure the server with a static IP address of 192.168.1.10 in the operating system settingsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question explicitly states 'without manually configuring the network adapter on the server,' so configuring a static IP in the OS is not allowed.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question required a static IP and did not prohibit manual configuration, or if the DHCP server could not be modified, then setting a static IP on the server would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often think static IP configuration is the standard method for a server, overlooking the requirement to avoid manual setup.
✗Change the DHCP range to 192.168.1.11-200 so that .10 is excludedWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Changing the DHCP range to exclude .10 does not guarantee the server gets that IP; the server would still need a static configuration or reservation. The question requires the server to always receive that IP without manual adapter configuration, which a reservation provides.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question asked for a method to prevent the DHCP server from assigning 192.168.1.10 to other devices, while the server itself is configured with a static IP manually. For example: 'A technician wants to ensure no other device gets the IP 192.168.1.10, which is used by a statically configured server. What should the technician do?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think excluding the IP from the DHCP range is sufficient to reserve it for the server, overlooking that the server still needs a static configuration or reservation to actually use that IP.
✗Set up a port forwarding rule for the serverWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Port forwarding is used to direct external traffic to a specific internal IP/port, not to assign a static IP address to a server. It does not affect the IP address the server receives from DHCP.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician needs to allow external users to access a web server on the internal network at 192.168.1.10. The correct method would be to set up a port forwarding rule on the router to forward incoming HTTP/HTTPS traffic to that server's IP.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse port forwarding with IP assignment because both involve configuring network devices, or they may think that port forwarding can 'reserve' an IP by associating it with a service.
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?”
Visual reference
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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