- A
The DHCP server is not assigning the correct subnet mask.
Why wrong: Incorrect subnet mask would affect all network communication, not just internal website access.
- B
The DNS server lacks a host record for the internal website.
A missing A or host record prevents name resolution for the internal site, while internet DNS works fine.
- C
The switch port connecting the server is administratively down.
Why wrong: If the switch port were down, the server would be unreachable entirely, not just via hostname.
- D
The firewall is blocking port 443 inbound.
Why wrong: Blocking port 443 would affect HTTPS access but not explain why employees can't reach the site by name while having internet.
Question 391 of 1,020
DNS Host Record: Why Internal Websites Need a DNS Record
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 small business reports that employees can access the internet but cannot reach the internal company website hosted on a local server. The server's IP address is 192.168.1.10, and clients use DHCP. 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.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the DNS server lacks a host record for the internal website. This is the most likely cause because when employees type the website’s hostname, their computers send a DNS query to resolve that name into an IP address; without a corresponding host record in the DNS zone, the query fails, and the browser cannot reach the server at 192.168.1.10. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how internal DNS resolution differs from internet access—a common trap is assuming that internet connectivity guarantees local name resolution, but DHCP only provides IP configuration, not DNS records for private resources. Remember that a host record (an A record for IPv4) explicitly maps a hostname to a private IP, so if internal sites are unreachable by name but the internet works, always check the DNS server first. A helpful memory tip is “No A record, no arrival”—without that host record, the name simply cannot be found.
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 DNS server lacks a host record for the internal website.
The internal website is accessed by its hostname, which clients resolve via DNS. Since employees can reach the internet (so general DNS works) but not the local server, the most likely cause is that the DNS server lacks a host record (A or AAAA record) for the internal website's name, preventing name-to-IP resolution for 192.168.1.10. DHCP is functioning correctly because clients receive IP addresses and can access the internet.
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 DHCP server is not assigning the correct subnet mask.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect subnet mask would affect all network communication, not just internal website access.
- ✓
The DNS server lacks a host record for the internal website.
Why this is correct
A missing A or host record prevents name resolution for the internal site, while internet DNS works fine.
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 switch port connecting the server is administratively down.
Why it's wrong here
If the switch port were down, the server would be unreachable entirely, not just via hostname.
- ✗
The firewall is blocking port 443 inbound.
Why it's wrong here
Blocking port 443 would affect HTTPS access but not explain why employees can't reach the site by name while having internet.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA A+ exams often test the distinction between connectivity issues (like a down switch port or firewall block) and name resolution issues, trapping candidates who assume that internet access implies all DNS is working, when in fact internal DNS records may be missing or misconfigured.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DNS resolution for internal resources often relies on a split-DNS configuration or a local DNS server with manual host records. When a client requests the internal website by name, the DNS query must return the private IP (192.168.1.10); if the record is missing, the client may receive a 'server not found' error even though the server is online. This scenario is common in small businesses where the internal DNS is not integrated with Active Directory or lacks proper forward lookup zones.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Common DNS Record Types
| Record | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | IPv4 address mapping | example.com → 93.184.216.34 |
| AAAA | IPv6 address mapping | example.com → 2606:2800::1 |
| CNAME | Alias to another hostname | www → example.com |
| MX | Mail server for domain | example.com → mail.example.com (priority 10) |
| TXT | Text data (SPF, DKIM, verification) | v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all |
| NS | Authoritative name servers | example.com NS ns1.example.com |
| PTR | Reverse DNS (IP → hostname) | 34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa → example.com |
| SOA | Zone authority record | Primary NS, admin email, serial, TTL defaults |
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: The DNS server lacks a host record for the internal website. — The internal website is accessed by its hostname, which clients resolve via DNS. Since employees can reach the internet (so general DNS works) but not the local server, the most likely cause is that the DNS server lacks a host record (A or AAAA record) for the internal website's name, preventing name-to-IP resolution for 192.168.1.10. DHCP is functioning correctly because clients receive IP addresses and can access the internet.
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.
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 troubleshooting a network where users can access the internet but cannot connect to a specific internal application server by its hostname. Pinging the server's IP address works. The DNS server is configured correctly for external names. What is the most likely cause?
medium- A.The DHCP server is out of IP addresses
- ✓ B.The DNS server does not have an A record for the application server
- C.NAT is misconfigured for the internal network
- D.The proxy server is blocking the hostname
Why B: Since users can access the internet and ping the server by IP, the network connectivity and external DNS resolution are working. The failure to resolve the internal server's hostname indicates that the DNS server lacks an A record for that specific hostname, preventing name-to-IP resolution for internal resources.
Variation 2. A company's internal website is accessible by IP address but not by its hostname. The website is hosted on a server with a static IP. Which service is most likely misconfigured?
medium- A.DHCP
- B.NAT
- ✓ C.DNS
- D.RADIUS
Why C: This question tests DNS resolution for internal resources. Access by IP works, so the server is reachable. The problem is name resolution, which points to a missing or incorrect DNS record for that hostname.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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