- A
The DHCP server is not assigning a default gateway.
Why wrong: If the default gateway were missing, internet access would fail, but the user can access the internet.
- B
The subnet mask is incorrect.
Why wrong: An incorrect subnet mask would likely cause both local and internet connectivity issues, not just name resolution.
- C
The DNS server is not resolving local hostnames.
Since IP pings work but hostname pings fail, the DNS server is not providing the correct A record for the file server, causing the resolution failure.
- D
The file server has a firewall blocking ICMP.
Why wrong: If the firewall blocked ICMP, pinging by IP would also fail, but the technician succeeded with an IP ping.
Question 649 of 1,020
Why Can I Ping by IP but Not Hostname?
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of network configuration concepts. 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 user complains that their desktop computer cannot connect to any network shares, but they can access the internet. The technician pings the file server by IP address successfully, but pinging by hostname fails. Which network configuration issue is most likely causing this problem?
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 a DNS server not resolving local hostnames. This is correct because when you can ping a file server by its IP address but not by its hostname, the network connectivity is intact, but the name-to-IP translation mechanism is broken. DNS is the service responsible for that translation, so a failure to resolve local hostnames points directly to a DNS configuration or record issue. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the OSI model’s application layer and the difference between IP-based and name-based connectivity. A common trap is to suspect a firewall or gateway problem, but since internet access works and IP pings succeed, the issue is isolated to name resolution. Remember the memory tip: “If IP works but names don’t, DNS is what you won’t.”
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 is not resolving local hostnames.
The user can access the internet (which relies on external DNS resolution) and can ping the file server by IP address, but cannot ping by hostname. This indicates that the local DNS server is failing to resolve the file server's hostname to its IP address. Since the user can reach the internet, the default gateway and subnet mask are likely correct, and the file server's firewall is not blocking ICMP because the IP-based ping succeeds.
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 a default gateway.
Why it's wrong here
If the default gateway were missing, internet access would fail, but the user can access the internet.
- ✗
The subnet mask is incorrect.
Why it's wrong here
An incorrect subnet mask would likely cause both local and internet connectivity issues, not just name resolution.
- ✓
The DNS server is not resolving local hostnames.
Why this is correct
Since IP pings work but hostname pings fail, the DNS server is not providing the correct A record for the file server, causing the resolution failure.
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 file server has a firewall blocking ICMP.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume a firewall is blocking ICMP (Option D) because they see a ping failure, but the successful ping by IP proves the firewall is not the issue, and the real problem is DNS resolution for local hostnames.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DNS resolution for local hostnames often relies on a local DNS server or a hosts file; if the DNS server is misconfigured or does not have the appropriate A or PTR records for internal hosts, name resolution fails while external DNS queries (e.g., for internet access) may still work if forwarded to external resolvers. The `nslookup` or `dig` command can be used to isolate whether the failure is at the DNS server level versus a client-side caching issue. In enterprise environments, split-DNS configurations are common, where internal hostnames are resolved by an internal DNS server that may be separate from the internet-facing resolver.
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
IPv4 Address Class Summary
| Class | First Octet Range | Default Mask | Networks | Hosts per Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1–126 | /8 (255.0.0.0) | 126 | 16,777,214 |
| B | 128–191 | /16 (255.255.0.0) | 16,384 | 65,534 |
| C | 192–223 | /24 (255.255.255.0) | 2,097,152 | 254 |
| D | 224–239 | N/A | Multicast groups | — |
| E | 240–255 | N/A | Reserved / experimental | — |
127.x.x.x is reserved for loopback. Modern networks use CIDR (classless) rather than classful addressing.
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: The DNS server is not resolving local hostnames. — The user can access the internet (which relies on external DNS resolution) and can ping the file server by IP address, but cannot ping by hostname. This indicates that the local DNS server is failing to resolve the file server's hostname to its IP address. Since the user can reach the internet, the default gateway and subnet mask are likely correct, and the file server's firewall is not blocking ICMP because the IP-based ping succeeds.
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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