220-1101 Networking Practice Question
A user reports that their workstation can access the internet and other network resources by IP address, but cannot connect to an internal file server (fileserver.company.local) by its hostname. Other users on the same network can access the file server by hostname without issue. The workstation's IP configuration is static: IP 192.168.1.10, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, default gateway 192.168.1.1, and DNS server 192.168.1.1. The technician pings the IP address of the file server (192.168.1.100) successfully from the affected workstation. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to assume DNS server misconfiguration when hostname resolution fails, overlooking that the hosts file is checked first and can override DNS, especially when other users can resolve the same hostname.
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 local hosts file has an incorrect mapping for the file server
The workstation can access resources by IP address but not by hostname, and other users can resolve the hostname successfully, indicating a local name resolution issue. The hosts file on the affected workstation likely contains an incorrect or outdated mapping for fileserver.company.local, overriding DNS resolution. Since the DNS server is working for other users and the workstation can ping the file server by IP, the problem is isolated to the local hosts file.
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 workstation's network cable is faulty
Why it's wrong here
A faulty network cable operates at Layer 1 and would manifest as link-loss, high error rates, or dropped packets across all traffic. The workstation's successful access to the internet and other network resources proves the cable is carrying data reliably. Name-resolution failure for a single file server cannot be caused by a physical medium fault, since that would degrade all communication, not just one hostname lookup.
- ✓
The local hosts file has an incorrect mapping for the file server
Why this is correct
The hosts file overrides DNS resolution because the resolver checks it first. If it contains a stale or incorrect IP address mapped to the file server's hostname, the workstation will always attempt to contact the wrong IP, bypassing the correct DNS answer. This isolates the issue to that one workstation while all other clients—and all other hostnames on the same machine—resolve properly, exactly matching the symptom.
- ✗
The DNS server is not configured to resolve internal hostnames
Why it's wrong here
DNS misconfiguration for internal hostnames would affect every client querying that zone, not a single workstation. Since other users successfully resolve the internal file server's name, the server's A/AAAA record and zone are correct. Furthermore, the affected workstation can resolve external internet names, proving the DNS client settings and the DNS server's forwarders are functioning; only one cached or local override is corrupted.
- ✗
A firewall rule is blocking port 445 (SMB) on the workstation
Why it's wrong here
SMB uses port 445 for direct TCP connections. A firewall rule blocking outbound or inbound 445 would prevent all SMB communication, whether the server is referenced by hostname or IP address. Because the reported problem is specifically that the hostname fails while IP-based access works—or at least that other network services function—a service-specific port block at the workstation cannot explain a name-resolution-only failure.
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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.