- A
ping -t
Why wrong: Ping with -t continuously tests reachability but does not show the path or identify where packets are lost.
- B
tracert
Tracert lists each hop along the route and can reveal which hop is failing, allowing the technician to isolate the problem to a specific router or firewall.
- C
netstat -r
Why wrong: Netstat -r displays the routing table, not the actual path packets take or where they are dropped.
- D
pathping
Why wrong: Pathping does trace the route and calculate packet loss per hop, but it takes longer to complete and is less commonly used for quick troubleshooting than tracert.
Question 850 of 1,020
220-1201 Networking Tools Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of networking tools. 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 server administrator reports that a critical server is unreachable from the network. The technician can ping the server's IP address from the local subnet but not from a remote subnet. Which command-line tool should be used to identify where packets are being dropped along the path?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"which command"Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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
✓
tracert
B is correct because `tracert` (or `traceroute` on Linux) uses ICMP Time Exceeded messages to map each hop along the path from source to destination. When a server is reachable locally but not from a remote subnet, `tracert` can pinpoint exactly which router is dropping packets, revealing a routing or firewall issue at that hop.
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.
- ✗
ping -t
Why it's wrong here
Ping with -t continuously tests reachability but does not show the path or identify where packets are lost.
- ✓
tracert
Why this is correct
Tracert lists each hop along the route and can reveal which hop is failing, allowing the technician to isolate the problem to a specific router or firewall.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
netstat -r
Why it's wrong here
Netstat -r displays the routing table, not the actual path packets take or where they are dropped.
- ✗
pathping
Why it's wrong here
Pathping does trace the route and calculate packet loss per hop, but it takes longer to complete and is less commonly used for quick troubleshooting than tracert.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
In CompTIA A+, the distinction between `tracert` (hop-by-hop path discovery) and `pathping` (which adds latency and packet loss statistics over multiple probes) is commonly tested. Candidates may choose `pathping` when the question simply asks for identifying where packets are dropped along the path.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Ping with -t continuously tests reachability but does not show the path or identify where packets are lost.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
`tracert` works by sending ICMP Echo Requests with incrementing TTL values; each router decrements the TTL, and when it reaches 0, the router returns an ICMP Time Exceeded message, revealing its IP. In real-world scenarios, a firewall at an intermediate hop may silently drop packets without responding, causing `tracert` to show asterisks (* * *) at that hop, which directly indicates the drop point.
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
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Networking Tools — This question tests Networking Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: tracert — B is correct because `tracert` (or `traceroute` on Linux) uses ICMP Time Exceeded messages to map each hop along the path from source to destination. When a server is reachable locally but not from a remote subnet, `tracert` can pinpoint exactly which router is dropping packets, revealing a routing or firewall issue at that hop.
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: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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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