- A
ping -t example.com
Why wrong: Continuously pings the host but does not show the route.
- B
tracert example.com
Traces the route and displays each hop, ideal for identifying where connectivity fails.
- C
nslookup example.com
Why wrong: Resolves the hostname to an IP address but does not trace the route.
- D
netstat -an
Why wrong: Shows active connections and listening ports, not the route.
Question 328 of 750
Using Tracert to Identify Network Path Failures
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of windows command-line 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 technician is troubleshooting a user's inability to access a specific website. The user can access other websites without issue. The technician wants to check the route packets take to the problematic server and identify where the connection fails. Which command should be used?
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.
Quick Answer
The answer is `tracert example.com`. This command is the correct choice because it traces the entire route packets take from your computer to the destination server, displaying each intermediate hop and the time taken. When a user can access other websites but not a specific one, the problem often lies somewhere along the network path, and `tracert` pinpoints exactly where packets stop being forwarded, revealing the failing router or firewall. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your ability to differentiate between basic network troubleshooting tools: `ping` only confirms reachability, `nslookup` resolves domain names, and `netstat` shows active connections—none of which map the route. A common trap is choosing `ping` because it seems faster, but it cannot show you where along the path the failure occurs. For a quick memory tip, think of “Trace Route” as “Track the Route”—if you need to see each step to the website, `tracert` is your map.
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 example.com
The `tracert` command (short for 'trace route') is the correct tool because it sends ICMP Echo Request packets with incrementally increasing TTL (Time to Live) values, causing each router along the path to reply with an ICMP Time Exceeded message. This reveals the exact hop-by-hop path to the destination and pinpoints where the connection fails, which is precisely what the technician needs to diagnose a site-specific outage.
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 example.com
Why it's wrong here
Continuously pings the host but does not show the route.
- ✓
tracert example.com
Why this is correct
Traces the route and displays each hop, ideal for identifying where connectivity fails.
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.
- ✗
nslookup example.com
Why it's wrong here
Resolves the hostname to an IP address but does not trace the route.
- ✗
netstat -an
Why it's wrong here
Shows active connections and listening ports, not the route.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA A+ often tests the distinction between connectivity testing (`ping`) and path discovery (`tracert`), trapping candidates who think `ping -t` is sufficient for route analysis, when it only verifies end-to-end reachability without hop-by-hop detail.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Continuously pings the host but does not show the route.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `tracert` works by sending ICMP Echo Requests (or ICMP Echo Requests with UDP probes on Windows) starting with a TTL of 1. Each router decrements the TTL; when it reaches 0, the router discards the packet and sends back an ICMP Time Exceeded message (Type 11, Code 0). The source records the router's IP from that message, then increments the TTL for the next probe. This process continues until the destination responds with an ICMP Echo Reply. In real-world scenarios, firewalls may block ICMP Time Exceeded messages, causing `tracert` to show asterisks (* * *) for certain hops, which can mislead troubleshooting if not understood.
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 practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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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Windows Command-Line Tools — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Windows Command-Line Tools — This question tests Windows Command-Line Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: tracert example.com — The `tracert` command (short for 'trace route') is the correct tool because it sends ICMP Echo Request packets with incrementally increasing TTL (Time to Live) values, causing each router along the path to reply with an ICMP Time Exceeded message. This reveals the exact hop-by-hop path to the destination and pinpoints where the connection fails, which is precisely what the technician needs to diagnose a site-specific outage.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 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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