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220-1101 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Practice Question
Drag and drop the steps for troubleshooting a network connectivity issue using the OSI model into the correct order.
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
✓
Check physical connectivity, then test loopback, then verify gateway connectivity, then check remote IP connectivity, then test DNS resolution.
Start at Layer 1 (physical), then work up: loopback (Layer 3), gateway, remote IP, DNS (Layer 7).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Check physical connectivity, then test loopback, then verify gateway connectivity, then check remote IP connectivity, then test DNS resolution.
Why this is correct
This is the correct order because troubleshooting should start at Layer 1 (physical) and progress upward through the OSI layers: Layer 1 (physical), Layer 3 (loopback), then gateway, remote IP, and finally Layer 7 (DNS).
- ✗
Test DNS resolution, then check remote IP connectivity, then verify gateway connectivity, then test loopback, then check physical connectivity.
Why it's wrong here
Starting at Layer 7 DNS introduces a name-resolution dependency that can mask lower-layer faults; if the network cable is unplugged, DNS will fail, but the root cause is physical, not DNS. This top-down order wastes time chasing application-layer symptoms while ignoring the OSI model's foundational layers. Proper troubleshooting must begin at Layer 1 to isolate the fault efficiently.
- ✗
Test loopback, then check physical connectivity, then verify gateway connectivity, then check remote IP connectivity, then test DNS resolution.
Why it's wrong here
The loopback test (127.0.0.1) exercises only the host's internal TCP/IP protocol stack, never leaving the NIC or touching any physical medium. If you test loopback before verifying physical connectivity, you can get a successful result while the cable is disconnected or the switch port is down, creating false confidence. Physical layer verification is an absolute prerequisite for any meaningful loopback test.
- ✗
Check physical connectivity, then verify gateway connectivity, then test loopback, then check remote IP connectivity, then test DNS resolution.
Why it's wrong here
Going from physical connectivity directly to the gateway skips the local TCP/IP stack verification. A failed or misconfigured NIC driver can render the gateway unreachable even when the cable is seated and the link light is green. The loopback test isolates the local interface's protocol stack independently, and it must come before any off-subnet test like the gateway ping to properly segment the troubleshooting process.
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 |
Go deeper
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Key term
Fully Qualified Domain Name
A Fully Qualified Domain Name is the complete and unambiguous website or server name that includes the host, domain, and top-level domain, leaving no room for guesswork.
Key term
Open Systems Interconnection
The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model is a conceptual framework used to understand how data travels from one computer to another across a network.
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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.