220-1101 Networking Practice Question
A technician is setting up a small office network. The router has only four LAN ports, but the office has six computers and two network printers that all need to be connected to the same network. Which additional device should the technician use to connect all devices?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between a hub and a switch, where candidates mistakenly choose a hub because they think it is cheaper or simpler, but the trap is that a hub cannot handle the traffic load of multiple devices without severe collisions, making a switch the only viable solution for modern networks.
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
✓
A switch
A switch is the correct choice because it provides multiple Ethernet ports (typically 8, 16, or 24) and operates at Layer 2 of the OSI model, forwarding frames based on MAC addresses. This allows the technician to connect the six computers and two printers (eight devices total) to the router's single LAN port via the switch, creating a single broadcast domain while efficiently managing traffic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A hub
Why it's wrong here
A hub repeats every incoming signal out all other ports, forcing all attached devices to share one collision domain. On a modern office network, this causes constant CSMA/CD backoff and retransmissions as traffic grows, drastically reducing effective throughput. While a hub does add physical ports, its shared-bandwidth, half-duplex behavior is far inferior to a switch's dedicated-port architecture, making it the wrong choice for efficient expansion.
When this WOULD be correct
A hub would be correct in a scenario where cost is the absolute priority, network traffic is very low (e.g., a lab with occasional data transfer), and the exam explicitly states that performance is not a concern or that a simple, cheap device is needed to extend the number of ports.
- ✓
A switch
Why this is correct
A network switch is correct because it works at Layer 2, learning MAC addresses and building a forwarding table to send frames only to the specific destination port. Each switch port is its own collision domain, enabling full-duplex data transfer and dedicated bandwidth to connected devices. Adding one to the router's four LAN ports expands the number of usable connections while keeping network performance high.
- ✗
A modem
Why it's wrong here
A modem's job is to translate between the service provider's line signaling (such as DOCSIS or DSL) and the Ethernet used inside the office. It supplies a WAN-facing link and, in many units, incorporates a router, but it is not designed to add extra switched LAN ports. Connecting more end devices to it does not create the same Layer 2 switching capability a dedicated network switch provides.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician is setting up internet access for a small office and needs to connect the ISP line (e.g., cable or DSL) to a router. The correct device to convert the ISP signal to an Ethernet signal is a modem.
- ✗
A patch panel
Why it's wrong here
A patch panel is passive cabling infrastructure, providing a fixed termination point for in-wall Ethernet runs and allowing easy cross-connection with patch cables. It has no electronics, no MAC address logic, and no ability to regenerate or forward frames, so it cannot actively increase the router's LAN capacity. It only organizes and labels cables, requiring an active device like a switch to provide the actual network connections.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician is setting up a server room and needs to neatly terminate multiple Ethernet cables from wall jacks before connecting them to a switch. A patch panel would be the correct device for cable management and organization.
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.
✓A switchCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A network switch is correct because it works at Layer 2, learning MAC addresses and building a forwarding table to send frames only to the specific destination port. Each switch port is its own collision domain, enabling full-duplex data transfer and dedicated bandwidth to connected devices. Adding one to the router's four LAN ports expands the number of usable connections while keeping network performance high.
✗A hubWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A hub operates at Layer 1 and forwards all traffic to all ports, causing collisions and inefficiency. For connecting multiple devices to a single network with minimal performance impact, a switch is required because it segments traffic at Layer 2.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A hub would be correct in a scenario where cost is the absolute priority, network traffic is very low (e.g., a lab with occasional data transfer), and the exam explicitly states that performance is not a concern or that a simple, cheap device is needed to extend the number of ports.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse hubs with switches, thinking both simply add more ports. They might remember that hubs are cheaper and assume they are sufficient for small networks, overlooking the performance degradation from collision domains.
✗A modemWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A modem connects a local network to an internet service provider (ISP), but it does not provide additional LAN ports to connect multiple devices within the same network.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician is setting up internet access for a small office and needs to connect the ISP line (e.g., cable or DSL) to a router. The correct device to convert the ISP signal to an Ethernet signal is a modem.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse a modem with a switch or router, thinking it can expand the number of network ports, or they may assume all networking devices provide multiple LAN connections.
✗A patch panelWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A patch panel is used to terminate and organize cabling, not to actively connect devices to a network. It does not provide additional LAN ports or switching functionality, so it cannot solve the shortage of ports on the router.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician is setting up a server room and needs to neatly terminate multiple Ethernet cables from wall jacks before connecting them to a switch. A patch panel would be the correct device for cable management and organization.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse a patch panel with a switch or hub because both are associated with network cabling and connectivity, leading them to think a patch panel can expand port availability.
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?”
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
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 220-1101 question from scratch — 896 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.