220-1101 Networking Practice Question
A technician installs a new PoE security camera in an office. The camera is connected to a wall jack that runs to a PoE-enabled switch. The camera does not power on. The technician tests the cable with a cable tester and it passes. The switch port has a solid link light. The technician connects a known-working laptop to the same wall jack, and the laptop gets an IP address and can access the network. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between PoE standards (802.3af vs. 802.3at) and the fact that a device can link at Layer 1 but still fail to power on due to insufficient wattage, leading candidates to incorrectly blame cabling or port 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
✓
The camera requires a higher PoE standard than the switch provides.
The camera does not power on despite the cable passing a continuity test, the switch port showing a link light, and a known-working laptop successfully obtaining an IP address through the same wall jack. This indicates that the physical layer and basic network connectivity are functional, but the PoE power delivery is insufficient. The most likely cause is that the camera requires a higher PoE standard (e.g., PoE+ 802.3at, which provides up to 30W) than the switch provides (e.g., standard PoE 802.3af, which provides up to 15.4W), so the camera cannot draw enough power to boot.
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 cable is too long for PoE to function correctly.
Why it's wrong here
The 100-meter maximum for Ethernet cabling is the fundamental limit for PoE and standard data transmission. Since the cable passed a continuity test and the laptop successfully connected to the network through the same run, both data and link integrity are confirmed. A length issue would typically cause link failures or intermittent connectivity, not a complete failure to power the camera while the link light remains solid.
- ✗
The switch port does not have PoE enabled.
Why it's wrong here
While PoE can be disabled per port on managed switches, it is often enabled by default. Additionally, the solid link light suggests the switch is actively connected. The laptop works, so data connectivity is present; PoE enablement would not affect the laptop.
- ✓
The camera requires a higher PoE standard than the switch provides.
Why this is correct
This is the most likely cause. The camera may need PoE+ (802.3at) or PoE++ (802.3bt) while the switch only supplies 802.3af. The insufficient power prevents the camera from powering on, even though data passes normally.
- ✗
The camera has an IP address conflict with another device on the network.
Why it's wrong here
An IP conflict would cause connectivity issues but would not prevent the camera from receiving power. The camera would still power on and possibly show a link light. The problem here is that the camera is not powering on at all.
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
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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.