- A
DHCP
Why wrong: DHCP assigns IP addresses and other network settings, but the customer already has a valid IP and can ping by IP, so DHCP is not the issue.
- B
DNS
DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses. Since the customer can access resources by IP but not by hostname, DNS is misconfigured or not resolving local names.
- C
NAT
Why wrong: NAT translates private IPs to public IPs for internet access, but the customer can already reach the internet via wired connection, so NAT is working.
- D
ARP
Why wrong: ARP resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses on the local network. Since the customer can ping by IP, ARP is functioning correctly.
Question 789 of 1,020
220-1201 Network Services Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of network services. 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 customer reports that their laptop can connect to the internet via a wired connection but cannot access any network shares or printers by hostname. They can ping the IP address of the file server. Which network service is most likely misconfigured?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
DNS
The user can ping the file server by IP address, which confirms that basic IP connectivity (Layer 3) is working. However, they cannot access network shares or printers by hostname, which indicates that the system cannot resolve those hostnames to IP addresses. DNS (Domain Name System) is the service responsible for translating hostnames to IP addresses, so a misconfigured DNS server or client DNS settings would cause exactly this symptom.
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.
- ✗
DHCP
Why it's wrong here
DHCP assigns IP addresses and other network settings, but the customer already has a valid IP and can ping by IP, so DHCP is not the issue.
- ✓
DNS
Why this is correct
DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses. Since the customer can access resources by IP but not by hostname, DNS is misconfigured or not resolving local names.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
NAT
- ✗
ARP
Why it's wrong here
ARP resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses on the local network. Since the customer can ping by IP, ARP is functioning correctly.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse DNS with DHCP, thinking that DHCP provides name resolution, but DHCP only provides the address of the DNS server—it does not perform the actual hostname-to-IP translation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a client attempts to access a network share by hostname (e.g., \\fileserver\share), the system first performs a DNS query to resolve 'fileserver' to an IP address. If the DNS server is unreachable, misconfigured, or does not have the appropriate A or PTR records, the name resolution fails even though the target host is reachable by IP. In Windows environments, the 'nslookup' or 'ping -a' commands can be used to test DNS resolution, and the 'ipconfig /all' command shows the configured DNS servers.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Network Services — This question tests Network Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DNS — The user can ping the file server by IP address, which confirms that basic IP connectivity (Layer 3) is working. However, they cannot access network shares or printers by hostname, which indicates that the system cannot resolve those hostnames to IP addresses. DNS (Domain Name System) is the service responsible for translating hostnames to IP addresses, so a misconfigured DNS server or client DNS settings would cause exactly this symptom.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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