- A
192.168.1.150
Why wrong: This address is inside the DHCP range (100-200), so it could be assigned by DHCP to another device, causing a conflict.
- B
192.168.1.50
This address is within the subnet (1-254) but outside the DHCP pool (100-200), making it a safe static assignment.
- C
10.0.0.50
Why wrong: This is a different subnet (10.0.0.0/24) and would not be reachable from the 192.168.1.x network without routing.
- D
192.168.2.50
Why wrong: This address is on a different subnet (192.168.2.0/24) and would require a router to communicate with devices on 192.168.1.x.
Question 186 of 1,020
How to Choose a Static IP Address Outside the DHCP Range
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of network configuration concepts. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 office has a single router with four LAN ports. The network uses the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet, and the router's LAN IP is 192.168.1.1. A technician needs to add a new printer that must have a static IP address outside the DHCP range (192.168.1.100-192.168.1.200) but still be reachable by all devices. Which IP address should the technician assign to the printer?
Quick Answer
The answer is 192.168.1.50. This address is valid because it falls within the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet—which spans from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254—yet sits entirely outside the DHCP range of .100 to .200, ensuring no IP conflict with dynamically assigned devices. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your understanding of subnet boundaries and DHCP exclusion zones; a common trap is choosing an address like .201 (still inside the subnet but often mistakenly thought to be outside the pool) or .99 (which is inside the pool). The key concept is that a static IP outside DHCP range must be on the same subnet as the router, but not in the pool—so any address from .2 to .99 or .201 to .254 works, as long as it’s not already taken. Memory tip: think of the DHCP pool as a reserved “hotel block” of rooms; your static IP is a private room in the same building, just in a different hallway.
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
✓
192.168.1.50
Option B (192.168.1.50) is correct because it falls within the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet, is outside the DHCP range of 192.168.1.100–200, and is on the same broadcast domain as all devices, ensuring reachability without an IP conflict.
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.
- ✗
192.168.1.150
Why it's wrong here
This address is inside the DHCP range (100-200), so it could be assigned by DHCP to another device, causing a conflict.
- ✓
192.168.1.50
Why this is correct
This address is within the subnet (1-254) but outside the DHCP pool (100-200), making it a safe static assignment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
10.0.0.50
Why it's wrong here
This is a different subnet (10.0.0.0/24) and would not be reachable from the 192.168.1.x network without routing.
- ✗
192.168.2.50
Why it's wrong here
This address is on a different subnet (192.168.2.0/24) and would require a router to communicate with devices on 192.168.1.x.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common mistake is to think any IP in the same subnet works, ignoring the DHCP exclusion range, leading candidates to pick an address like 192.168.1.150 that is inside the pool.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Static IP assignments outside the DHCP pool prevent address conflicts, as DHCP servers typically do not offer addresses outside their configured scope. The printer must also use the same subnet mask (255.255.255.0) and default gateway (192.168.1.1) to ensure Layer 3 communication within the LAN. In real-world scenarios, reserving a static IP in the lower range (e.g., .1–.99) is a common practice for servers and printers to keep them separate from dynamic client addresses.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Network Configuration Concepts — This question tests Network Configuration Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 192.168.1.50 — Option B (192.168.1.50) is correct because it falls within the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet, is outside the DHCP range of 192.168.1.100–200, and is on the same broadcast domain as all devices, ensuring reachability without an IP conflict.
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
1 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 small office has a single router with four LAN ports. The network uses 192.168.1.0/24. A new printer is assigned a static IP of 192.168.1.256. What will happen when the printer is connected?
easy- A.The printer will work but only with devices that have a static IP
- B.The printer will automatically obtain a valid IP via DHCP
- ✓ C.The printer will not be able to communicate on the network
- D.The printer will cause an IP address conflict with the router
Why C: Option C is correct because 192.168.1.256 is an invalid IPv4 address. In IPv4, each octet is an 8-bit number ranging from 0 to 255. The value 256 exceeds this limit, so the address is malformed. The printer will not be able to communicate on the network because its configured IP is outside the valid address space and cannot be used for any network communication.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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