220-1101 Networking Practice Question
A technician is troubleshooting a workstation that cannot connect to the network. The link light on the network interface card is blinking amber, and the switch port shows no link light. The Ethernet cable run from the workstation to the patch panel is approximately 125 meters. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the connectivity issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates may focus on the amber blinking link light and assume a cable damage issue (Option A), but the 125-meter distance is the clear violation of the 100-meter Ethernet segment length limit, which is a standard CompTIA 220-1101 exam point.
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 cable exceeds the maximum segment length for Ethernet.
The Ethernet cable run is 125 meters, which exceeds the IEEE 802.3 maximum segment length of 100 meters for twisted-pair copper cabling (e.g., Cat5e, Cat6). This distance causes signal attenuation and timing issues, preventing the switch port from establishing a link, as indicated by the absence of a link light on the switch and the amber blinking link light on the NIC (which often signals a physical-layer problem).
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 damaged near the connector.
Why it's wrong here
While a damaged cable near the connector can absolutely produce a dead link, the decisive clue here is the stated 125-meter run length. A kink or broken wire typically causes intermittent connectivity or CRC errors, but this scenario points to attenuation exceeding the IEEE 100-meter limit for twisted-pair Ethernet. The technician should first verify cable length, since that is a clear spec violation and the most probable cause.
- ✓
The cable exceeds the maximum segment length for Ethernet.
Why this is correct
Unshielded/shielded twisted-pair Ethernet is specified for a maximum segment length of 100 meters. At 125 meters, the signal attenuation and propagation delay exceed what the PHY can reliably compensate for, so the switch will fail to establish link or will constantly drop it. This is not a configuration or power issue; it is a physical-layer limitation and the most likely root cause given the distance.
- ✗
The network switch is not providing PoE.
Why it's wrong here
PoE, or Power over Ethernet, only matters when the endpoint is designed to receive its operating power from the data cable, such as an IP camera, VoIP phone, or wireless access point. A workstation has its own power supply, so it never depends on PoE to bring up the network link. Even if the switch omitted PoE entirely, a normal Ethernet link would still light up; therefore this option cannot explain the failure.
- ✗
The workstation's NIC is set to a static IP address.
Why it's wrong here
A static IP address is a Layer 3 (network layer) setting that controls how the workstation identifies itself on the IP network, but it has no effect on the physical electrical link. The absence of a link light means the NIC and switch are not successfully completing the auto-negotiation process at the physical layer. Even a completely blank or misconfigured TCP/IP stack would still produce a valid link if the cable and run length are good.
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.