220-1101 Networking Practice Question
A small office uses a router with a built-in switch and a separate wireless access point. Users on the wired network can access the internet and internal resources, but wireless users cannot access any internal resources. Wireless users can connect to the access point and obtain an IP address in the 192.168.2.0/24 range, while wired users are on 192.168.1.0/24. The router's LAN interface is 192.168.1.1/24, and the access point is connected to the router's switch port and has an IP of 192.168.1.100/24. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume wireless clients obtaining an IP address means full connectivity, but they overlook the fundamental requirement for a router to have a route between different subnets for inter-VLAN or inter-subnet communication.
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
✓
The router does not have a route between the two subnets.
The router's LAN interface is on 192.168.1.0/24, and the access point is connected to that same subnet with IP 192.168.1.100/24. Wireless clients receive IPs in 192.168.2.0/24, which is a different subnet. For traffic from 192.168.2.0/24 to reach internal resources on 192.168.1.0/24, the router must have a route between these two subnets. Without that route, the router drops or fails to forward packets, isolating wireless users from internal resources.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The access point is not configured as a bridge.
Why it's wrong here
Even if the access point is in bridge mode, it would pass traffic without routing, meaning wireless clients would typically get IPs from the same subnet as wired. The fact that they are on a different subnet indicates the access point is acting as a router or has its own DHCP server. The issue is routing, not operating mode.
- ✓
The router does not have a route between the two subnets.
Why this is correct
The wireless subnet (192.168.2.0/24) is not directly connected to the router. The router needs a static route or the access point must perform inter-VLAN routing. Without a route, the router drops packets destined for 192.168.1.0/24 from the wireless subnet, or vice versa. This is the most likely cause of the connectivity failure.
- ✗
The wireless network encryption is set incorrectly.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect wireless encryption would prevent successful association and authentication between the client and the access point, typically resulting in an inability to connect or frequent disconnects, not IP connectivity issues after a successful association. Since the users are already connected and have obtained IP addresses from the 192.168.2.0/24 range, encryption is functioning correctly. WPA2/WPA3 encryption keys govern the wireless link layer only; they do not affect Layer 3 routing tables or the router's forwarding decisions between subnets. Thus, misconfigured encryption cannot explain why traffic between the wireless subnet and the wired subnet fails.
- ✗
The access point's DHCP server is conflicting with the router.
Why it's wrong here
A DHCP conflict could cause IP assignment issues, but wireless users are successfully getting addresses in the 192.168.2.0/24 range. The conflict would not necessarily prevent inter-subnet communication; it might cause address duplication or incorrect gateway assignment. However, the primary issue is routing, not DHCP.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 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 220-1101 exam.