- A
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Why wrong: A WAN is used for long-distance connections and is unnecessary for devices in the same building.
- B
Personal Area Network (PAN)
Why wrong: A PAN covers only a few meters, which is insufficient for a large warehouse.
- C
Local Area Network (LAN)
A LAN connects devices within a single building, making it ideal for the warehouse scenario.
- D
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Why wrong: A MAN covers a city area and is overkill for a single building.
Question 86 of 1,020
Local Area Network (LAN) Explained
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of network types. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 client wants to set up a network in a single large warehouse where employees use handheld scanners to track inventory. The scanners need to communicate with a central server located in the same building, but no internet access is required. Which network type should be configured?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is a Local Area Network (LAN), because a LAN is specifically designed to connect devices within a limited physical area, such as a single building or warehouse, enabling local communication without requiring internet access. In this scenario, the handheld scanners need to communicate with a central server on-site, and a LAN—whether wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi—provides the necessary high-speed, low-latency connection for that purpose. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish network types by scope: a LAN covers a building or campus, while a WAN spans cities, a MAN covers a metropolitan area, and a PAN is limited to a few meters. A common trap is confusing a WAN with a LAN when internet is absent, but remember that a LAN operates independently of internet access. To lock in the concept, use the memory tip: “LAN is for the land you own—one building, one network.”
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
✓
Local Area Network (LAN)
A Local Area Network (LAN) is the correct choice because it connects devices within a limited geographic area, such as a single warehouse, using high-speed Ethernet or Wi-Fi. The handheld scanners and central server need to communicate locally without internet access, which is the defining characteristic of a LAN. Technologies like IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) or IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) provide the necessary low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity for real-time inventory tracking.
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.
- ✗
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Why it's wrong here
A WAN is used for long-distance connections and is unnecessary for devices in the same building.
- ✗
Personal Area Network (PAN)
Why it's wrong here
A PAN covers only a few meters, which is insufficient for a large warehouse.
- ✓
Local Area Network (LAN)
Why this is correct
A LAN connects devices within a single building, making it ideal for the warehouse scenario.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Why it's wrong here
A MAN covers a city area and is overkill for a single building.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that any network without internet access must be a LAN, but the trap here is that candidates might confuse 'no internet required' with 'needs a WAN' for remote access, or incorrectly choose PAN because the devices are handheld and wireless.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, a LAN uses MAC addresses and ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) to forward frames at Layer 2, with switches maintaining CAM tables to direct traffic efficiently. In a warehouse, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) can handle high-density scanner connections with OFDMA and MU-MIMO, while a wired LAN using Power over Ethernet (PoE) could power access points and even some scanners. A subtle behavior: if the scanners use a mesh topology, they must still operate within the LAN's broadcast domain to discover the server via protocols like DHCP or mDNS.
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 practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
- →
Network Types — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Network Types practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All 220-1201 questions
1,020 questions across all exam domains
- →
CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
220-1201 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related 220-1201 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Mobile Device Hardware Servicing practice questions
Practise 220-1201 questions linked to Mobile Device Hardware Servicing.
Mobile Device Connection Methods practice questions
Practise 220-1201 questions linked to Mobile Device Connection Methods.
Mobile Device Accessories practice questions
Practise 220-1201 questions linked to Mobile Device Accessories.
Mobile Device Network Connectivity practice questions
Practise 220-1201 questions linked to Mobile Device Network Connectivity.
Mobile Device Application Support practice questions
Practise 220-1201 questions linked to Mobile Device Application Support.
Network Protocols practice questions
Practise 220-1201 questions linked to Network Protocols.
TCP & UDP Ports practice questions
Practise 220-1201 questions linked to TCP & UDP Ports.
Wireless Networking Technologies practice questions
Practise 220-1201 questions linked to Wireless Networking Technologies.
Network Services practice questions
Practise 220-1201 questions linked to Network Services.
Network Configuration Concepts practice questions
Practise 220-1201 questions linked to Network Configuration Concepts.
Common Networking Hardware practice questions
Practise 220-1201 questions linked to Common Networking Hardware.
IP Addressing practice questions
Practise 220-1201 questions linked to IP Addressing.
Practice this exam
Start a free 220-1201 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Network Types — This question tests Network Types — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Local Area Network (LAN) — A Local Area Network (LAN) is the correct choice because it connects devices within a limited geographic area, such as a single warehouse, using high-speed Ethernet or Wi-Fi. The handheld scanners and central server need to communicate locally without internet access, which is the defining characteristic of a LAN. Technologies like IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) or IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) provide the necessary low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity for real-time inventory tracking.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on 220-1201
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A technician is setting up a small office with five computers that need to share files and a printer. The office is in a single room, and no internet access is required yet. Which network type should be created?
medium- A.Personal Area Network (PAN)
- ✓ B.Local Area Network (LAN)
- C.Wide Area Network (WAN)
- D.Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Why B: A Local Area Network (LAN) is the correct choice because it connects devices within a limited physical area, such as a single room or office, enabling file sharing and printer access without requiring internet connectivity. LANs typically use Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) or Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) to provide high-speed, low-latency communication between the five computers and the printer, making it ideal for this small office setup.
Variation 2. A customer reports that their home office devices—a laptop, printer, and smartphone—can communicate with each other but cannot access the internet. They have a single router provided by their ISP. Which network type is most likely being used for local communication?
easy- A.Personal Area Network (PAN)
- ✓ B.Local Area Network (LAN)
- C.Wide Area Network (WAN)
- D.Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Why B: A Local Area Network (LAN) connects devices within a limited area, such as a home or office, allowing them to share resources like files and printers. The router creates a LAN for local communication, but internet access requires a properly configured WAN connection. The scenario describes a LAN issue, not a PAN (which is too short-range for a whole home) or a WAN/MAN.
Keep practising
More 220-1201 practice questions
- During a network cable installation, a technician needs to verify that a newly run Cat6 cable is properly terminated and…
- A user connects a 4K monitor to their laptop using a USB-C port. The monitor is detected, but the resolution is stuck at…
- A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that will not charge. The battery is removable, and the power adapter works on…
- A customer brings in a smartphone with a broken charging port. They want the port replaced. During disassembly, the tech…
- A user reports that their laptop's keyboard types random characters when certain keys are pressed. The laptop has not be…
- A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that shuts down randomly after a few minutes of use. The fan is spinning, and t…
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1201 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 220-1201 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.