Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A user reports that their desktop computer loses network connectivity for several seconds whenever they open a large file transfer program. The technician checks the NIC properties and sees that the link speed is 100 Mbps, but the switch port is configured for 1000 Mbps (full duplex). The cable is a Cat5e cable that runs through the ceiling. Other computers in the same office have gigabit connections to the same switch. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the intermittent connectivity?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
The switch port has a duplex mismatch.
If the switch port is set to 1000/full and the NIC negotiates 100 Mbps, it is more likely a cable issue than a duplex mismatch; duplex mismatch usually results in high error rates and the link speed may still show 1000.
B
Best answer
The Ethernet cable is damaged or has excessive length, causing the NIC to negotiate a lower speed.
Damaged or substandard cables (e.g., bent pins, length beyond spec) can cause the NIC and switch to fall back to a lower speed (100 Mbps). Under heavy traffic, the reduced capacity leads to packet drops and temporary loss of connectivity.
C
Distractor review
The file transfer program is using an incompatible protocol.
The file transfer protocol is not related to the physical link speed; the program would still work, albeit slower, without causing disconnections.
D
Distractor review
The NIC driver is outdated and not compatible with gigabit.
An outdated driver might cause performance issues, but it would not cause the link speed to drop to 100 Mbps while other computers on the same switch achieve gigabit.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Related practice questions
Related 220-1101 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
CompTIA A+ hardware practice questions
Practise 220-1101 questions linked to CompTIA A+ hardware.
CompTIA A+ mobile devices practice questions
Practise 220-1101 questions linked to CompTIA A+ mobile devices.
CompTIA A+ networking practice questions
Practise 220-1101 questions linked to CompTIA A+ networking.
CompTIA A+ operating systems practice questions
Practise 220-1101 questions linked to CompTIA A+ operating systems.
CompTIA A+ security practice questions
Practise 220-1101 questions linked to CompTIA A+ security.
CompTIA A+ software troubleshooting questions
Practise 220-1101 questions linked to CompTIA A+ software troubleshooting questions.
CompTIA A+ operational procedures questions
Practise 220-1101 questions linked to CompTIA A+ operational procedures questions.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A user reports intermittent network connectivity on a desktop computer. The technician observes that the Ethernet link light on the NIC turns off for a few seconds and then turns back on. The cable passes a wiremap test, the switch port is verified good with another device, and the NIC driver is updated. The issue occurs more frequently when the computer's case fan runs at high speed. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
Question 2
A workstation is unable to connect to the internet. The technician runs the 'ipconfig' command and sees the IPv4 address is 169.254.15.200 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. The workstation can ping other devices on the local subnet but cannot ping the default gateway or any external addresses. Which TWO actions should the technician take to resolve this issue? (Select two.)
Question 3
A workstation is connected to a managed switch. It obtains a valid IP address (192.168.10.50) from the DHCP server, but it cannot ping the default gateway (192.168.10.1). The link light on both the workstation NIC and the switch port are solid green. Other workstations on the same switch CAN ping the default gateway successfully. The technician accesses the switch management interface and finds that the workstation's port is configured as an access port on VLAN 10. The default gateway is located on VLAN 20. An inter-VLAN router is configured but not explicitly allowing VLAN 10 access to VLAN 20. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the problem?
Question 4
A company develops a web application that relies on a custom library available only for a specific Linux distribution. They want to deploy the application in the cloud with minimal administrative overhead, but they need full control over the software stack, including the ability to install the custom library and configure the web server. Which cloud service model BEST meets these requirements?
Question 5
A company has a legacy virtual machine running on a deprecated hypervisor (Hyper-V). They want to migrate this VM to a new hypervisor (VMware vSphere) hosted in a private cloud while preserving the VM's configuration, installed applications, and data. The migration must be performed with minimal downtime. Which of the following methods is MOST appropriate?
Question 6
A company hosts a critical database on a virtual machine in a public cloud. The database requires persistent storage that must be retained even if the VM is terminated. The storage must also be accessible from multiple VMs simultaneously for a future high-availability configuration. Which type of cloud storage BEST meets these requirements?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1101 question test?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The Ethernet cable is damaged or has excessive length, causing the NIC to negotiate a lower speed. — When a NIC connects at 100 Mbps instead of 1000 Mbps, it often indicates a cable problem such as damage, excessive length, or poor termination. During large file transfers, the reduced bandwidth leads to congestion and packet loss, causing temporary disconnections. Since other computers negotiate gigabit successfully, the switch is not the issue. A duplex mismatch would cause errors but the negotiated speed would typically be 1000 if the switch is set to 1000/full. The driver or protocol is less likely given the specific scenario.
What should I do if I get this 220-1101 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
Discussion
Loading comments…
Sign in to join the discussion.