- A
DHCP
Why wrong: DHCP assigns IP addresses; if it were failing, the user likely wouldn't have a valid IP or gateway to ping.
- B
DNS
DNS resolves domain names; without it, domain-based access fails even though IP-based connectivity works.
- C
NAT
Why wrong: NAT translates private IPs to public; if broken, pinging an external IP would fail.
- D
Proxy
Why wrong: A proxy could cause issues, but the symptom of successful IP ping points more directly to DNS failure.
Question 276 of 1,020
220-1201 Network Services Practice Question
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 user reports that they cannot access any websites, but they can ping the IP address of a public DNS server (8.8.8.8). What is the most likely misconfigured network service?
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
✓
DNS
The user can ping 8.8.8.8, confirming that IP connectivity and routing are working, but cannot access websites by name. This indicates that the system cannot resolve domain names to IP addresses, which is the function of DNS. A misconfigured DNS server address (e.g., pointing to a non-existent or unreachable DNS server) would cause this exact symptom.
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.
- ✗
DHCP
- ✓
DNS
Why this is correct
DNS resolves domain names; without it, domain-based access fails even though IP-based connectivity works.
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.
- ✗
NAT
- ✗
Proxy
Why it's wrong here
A proxy could cause issues, but the symptom of successful IP ping points more directly to DNS failure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between IP connectivity (Layer 3) and name resolution (Application Layer), tricking candidates into thinking a DHCP or NAT issue is at fault when the ping test clearly rules out those layers.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DNS resolution typically uses UDP port 53 to query a configured DNS server (e.g., from DHCP or static config). The `nslookup` or `dig` command can isolate DNS failures: if `nslookup google.com` fails but `ping 8.8.8.8` succeeds, the issue is DNS. In enterprise networks, a misconfigured DNS suffix search list or a firewall blocking DNS queries (UDP 53) can also cause this, but the most common misconfiguration is an incorrect DNS server IP in the client's network settings.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Visual reference
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: DNS — The user can ping 8.8.8.8, confirming that IP connectivity and routing are working, but cannot access websites by name. This indicates that the system cannot resolve domain names to IP addresses, which is the function of DNS. A misconfigured DNS server address (e.g., pointing to a non-existent or unreachable DNS server) would cause this exact symptom.
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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