Question 559 of 750

Virtualization and Cloud Technologies →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Troubleshooting VM Network Connectivity: Bridged Adapter DHCP Issues

This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of virtualization and cloud technologies. 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 their virtual machine, which is used for testing software, suddenly lost network connectivity. The host machine is connected to the internet and can browse websites. The VM is configured with a bridged network adapter. What is the most likely cause of this issue?

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.

A
The host's firewall is blocking the VM's network traffic.
Why wrong: If the host firewall were blocking, the host itself would likely also have issues or other VMs would be affected.
B
The VM's DHCP lease has expired and it failed to obtain a new IP address.
Bridged networking relies on DHCP; an expired lease without renewal causes loss of network access.
C
The virtual switch on the host has been disabled.
Why wrong: A disabled virtual switch would affect all VMs on that host, not just one.
D
The VM's operating system is corrupted.
Why wrong: OS corruption would likely cause other symptoms like boot failures or application crashes, not isolated network loss.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is that the VM’s DHCP lease has expired and it failed to obtain a new IP address. In bridged mode, the virtual machine acts as a separate device on the physical network, requesting its own IP from the network’s DHCP server. When that lease expires and the renewal process fails—often due to a temporary server hiccup or a stale lease table—the VM loses connectivity even though the host remains online. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how bridged adapters differ from NAT or host-only modes, and it’s a common trap to blame the host’s firewall or the virtual switch. Remember: if the host is fine but a single bridged VM is down, think DHCP lease first. A quick memory tip: “Bridged means borrowed—if the lease is lost, the bridge is crossed.”

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 VM's DHCP lease has expired and it failed to obtain a new IP address.

In a bridged network configuration, the VM obtains its IP address directly from the same DHCP server as the host (e.g., the home router). If the DHCP lease expires and the VM fails to renew it (due to a network hiccup, DHCP server overload, or misconfigured lease time), the VM will lose its IP address and network connectivity, while the host remains unaffected because it maintains its own active lease. This is the most common cause of isolated VM connectivity loss in a bridged setup.

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 host's firewall is blocking the VM's network traffic.
Why it's wrong here
If the host firewall were blocking, the host itself would likely also have issues or other VMs would be affected.
✓
The VM's DHCP lease has expired and it failed to obtain a new IP address.
Why this is correct
Bridged networking relies on DHCP; an expired lease without renewal causes loss of network access.
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 virtual switch on the host has been disabled.
Why it's wrong here
A disabled virtual switch would affect all VMs on that host, not just one.
✗
The VM's operating system is corrupted.
Why it's wrong here
OS corruption would likely cause other symptoms like boot failures or application crashes, not isolated network loss.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

CompTIA A+ exams often test the misconception that a bridged adapter shares the host's IP address; candidates incorrectly assume the VM inherits the host's connectivity, but in reality, the VM must obtain its own IP via DHCP, and a lease expiration can cause a silent disconnect while the host remains online.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

DHCP lease expiration is governed by RFC 2131, where clients attempt to renew at 50% of lease time (T1) and rebind at 87.5% (T2). If the VM misses renewal due to a temporary network outage or the DHCP server being unreachable, it will deactivate its IP address after the lease expires, effectively disconnecting it from the network. In a bridged adapter, the VM's virtual NIC is directly connected to the physical network, so it relies entirely on the external DHCP server, unlike NAT mode where the host acts as a DHCP proxy.

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.

Visual reference

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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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1202 question test?

Virtualization and Cloud Technologies — This question tests Virtualization and Cloud Technologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The VM's DHCP lease has expired and it failed to obtain a new IP address. — In a bridged network configuration, the VM obtains its IP address directly from the same DHCP server as the host (e.g., the home router). If the DHCP lease expires and the VM fails to renew it (due to a network hiccup, DHCP server overload, or misconfigured lease time), the VM will lose its IP address and network connectivity, while the host remains unaffected because it maintains its own active lease. This is the most common cause of isolated VM connectivity loss in a bridged setup.

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: "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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