The answer is to check the server’s firewall settings and verify the network adapter configuration. This is correct because the technician successfully pings the gateway from the server, confirming that Layer 3 connectivity to the router is working, yet another workstation on the same subnet cannot reach the server. When troubleshooting same-subnet connectivity, a failure to reach a specific host while the gateway responds points to a local issue on the target device itself, such as a firewall blocking inbound traffic or a misconfigured IP address, subnet mask, or disabled adapter. On the CompTIA ITF+ FC0-U61 exam, this scenario tests your ability to differentiate between network-layer problems and host-level configuration errors—a common trap is assuming the gateway or switch is faulty when the real culprit is the server’s own settings. Remember the memory tip: “If you can ping out but not in, check the host’s own skin”—meaning the firewall and adapter settings on the server.
FC0-U61 Infrastructure Practice Question
This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A network technician is troubleshooting a server that is not reachable from the LAN. The server has a static IP address of 192.168.1.100/24 and a default gateway of 192.168.1.1. The technician pings the gateway successfully but cannot ping the server from another workstation on the same subnet. Which TWO steps should the technician take to resolve the issue?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Verify the network adapter settings on the server
Option C is correct because the technician can ping the gateway from the server, confirming Layer 3 connectivity to the router, but cannot ping the server from another workstation on the same subnet. This points to a local configuration issue on the server itself, such as a misconfigured subnet mask, a disabled network adapter, or incorrect IP settings. Verifying the network adapter settings ensures the server's IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway are correctly applied and the adapter is enabled.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Clear the ARP cache on the server
Why it's wrong here
ARP cache does not affect incoming pings from other workstations.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume a successful ping to the gateway means the server is fully reachable, overlooking that local subnet communication requires correct subnet mask and adapter settings, not just gateway connectivity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
On a /24 subnet (255.255.255.0), all devices must have the same subnet mask to communicate directly. If the server's subnet mask were misconfigured (e.g., /16), it would consider the workstation's IP as on a different network and send traffic to the gateway instead of responding directly, causing a ping failure despite the gateway being reachable. The ARP cache stores MAC addresses for local hosts; clearing it would only help if stale entries existed, but the successful gateway ping indicates ARP is working correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Infrastructure — This question tests Infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Verify the network adapter settings on the server — Option C is correct because the technician can ping the gateway from the server, confirming Layer 3 connectivity to the router, but cannot ping the server from another workstation on the same subnet. This points to a local configuration issue on the server itself, such as a misconfigured subnet mask, a disabled network adapter, or incorrect IP settings. Verifying the network adapter settings ensures the server's IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway are correctly applied and the adapter is enabled.
What should I do if I get this FC0-U61 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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