- A
The printer's IP address is on a different subnet than the workstation.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Both addresses are in the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet, so they are on the same subnet.
- B
The printer's static IP address conflicts with another device on the network.
Correct. An IP conflict can cause one or both devices to be unreachable. The technician should check for duplicate IPs.
- C
The workstation's subnet mask is set to 255.255.0.0.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The subnet mask is given as 255.255.255.0, so this is not the issue.
- D
The printer's default gateway is misconfigured.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The default gateway is only needed for traffic outside the subnet; local communication does not require a gateway.
Question 636 of 1,020
220-1201 IP Addressing Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of ip addressing. 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 new printer, configured with a static IP of 192.168.1.100, cannot be accessed from any computer on the network. The technician pings 192.168.1.100 from a workstation and gets no reply. The workstation's IP is 192.168.1.50 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. What is the most likely cause?
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
✓
The printer's static IP address conflicts with another device on the network.
The most likely cause is that the printer's static IP address (192.168.1.100) conflicts with another device on the same subnet. When two devices share the same IP, the network becomes unreachable for one or both due to ARP table instability. The ping fails because the workstation's ARP cache may resolve the IP to the wrong MAC address, or the printer may not respond at all if it detects the conflict via gratuitous ARP.
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.
- ✗
The printer's IP address is on a different subnet than the workstation.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Both addresses are in the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet, so they are on the same subnet.
- ✓
The printer's static IP address conflicts with another device on the network.
Why this is correct
Correct. An IP conflict can cause one or both devices to be unreachable. The technician should check for duplicate IPs.
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.
- ✗
The workstation's subnet mask is set to 255.255.0.0.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The subnet mask is given as 255.255.255.0, so this is not the issue.
- ✗
The printer's default gateway is misconfigured.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The default gateway is only needed for traffic outside the subnet; local communication does not require a gateway.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that a ping failure between two devices on the same subnet must be caused by a subnet mismatch or gateway issue, when in fact an IP address conflict is the more likely culprit given the static IP configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a device is assigned a static IP that is already in use, the duplicate address detection (DAD) mechanism (RFC 5227) may cause the printer to fail to initialize its interface or to send a gratuitous ARP reply that disrupts the existing ARP tables of other hosts. In a Windows environment, the workstation may also display a 'duplicate IP address detected' warning, but the ping failure is the immediate symptom. This scenario is common in small networks where static IPs are assigned without checking for conflicts with DHCP scopes or other statically configured devices.
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.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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?
IP Addressing — This question tests IP Addressing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The printer's static IP address conflicts with another device on the network. — The most likely cause is that the printer's static IP address (192.168.1.100) conflicts with another device on the same subnet. When two devices share the same IP, the network becomes unreachable for one or both due to ARP table instability. The ping fails because the workstation's ARP cache may resolve the IP to the wrong MAC address, or the printer may not respond at all if it detects the conflict via gratuitous ARP.
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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