CompTIA A+ Practice Test (220-1201)

Link-local addresses are automatically configured on all IPv6-enabled interfaces and can be used to communicate with other hosts in the same network segment without the need for additional configuration. These addresses are in the fe80::/10 prefix range. A common misconception is to look for unique local addresses or site-local addresses; these are utilized in larger scopes or reserved for specific purposes and do not necessarily indicate successful interface operation in a local context. Global addresses are assigned for communication over the Internet, but their presence does not confirm the interface's ability to communicate on the local link.

User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is a connectionless transport-layer protocol that does not perform handshakes, acknowledgments, or automatic retransmissions. This lightweight design reduces latency and bandwidth overhead, making UDP the preferred transport for real-time applications such as online gaming and low-latency livestreams. In contrast, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and Server Message Block (SMB) either are or are built upon connection-oriented protocols that add reliability mechanisms, which increases delay and makes them less suitable for time-critical streaming.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) provides a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure typically associated with developing and launching an app. This service model enables developers to focus on writing the application code and managing the data specific to their business while the PaaS provider handles software updates, infrastructure management, and basic hosting responsibilities.

Quality of Service (QoS) is a common router feature that allows for the management and prioritization of network traffic. By configuring QoS, you can allocate more bandwidth to specific applications or devices and give them priority over others. In this scenario, you could configure QoS to prioritize traffic for your gaming computer or for the specific ports used by the game, which would reduce latency and improve performance, even when other devices are using the network heavily.

The most efficient solution is to connect the monitor with both VGA and DVI-D inputs using the DVI-D cable to the DVI-I output on the video card, as DVI-I supports both analog and digital signals and is compatible with DVI-D. The other monitor would be connected with the VGA cable to the VGA output. This setup ensures the use of the digital connection for the monitor that supports it, providing better display quality where possible while simultaneously using all available cable types correctly.

Category 6 (Cat 6) cable is the minimum standard that supports 10 Gbps speeds, although it is limited to 55 meters. It is constructed with tighter twists than Cat 5e, and often includes a spline, which provides better resistance to crosstalk and electromagnetic interference (EMI). While a shielded (STP) version of Cat 6 would be optimal for a high-EMI environment, standard Cat 6 still offers superior EMI resistance over Cat 5e. Cat 5e does not support 10 Gbps speeds, making it unsuitable for the future upgrade requirement. Coaxial cable is an outdated standard for local area networks and does not meet the speed requirements. Plenum-rated cable refers to fire-retardant jacketing for air-handling spaces and does not relate to network speed or EMI protection.

Restarting the cable modem is often the best first step in troubleshooting as it can resolve a range of issues, including ones related to connection establishment with the Internet Service Provider (ISP). Replacing the modem or router would be more costly and time-consuming without first attempting simpler troubleshooting steps. Checking the network card would not be related to a modem's inability to connect to the ISP. Cable testing is useful for ensuring physical connectivity but the scenario has verified physical connection.

Type-2 desktop virtualization lets the technician install Windows 98 inside an isolated guest VM, providing the exact environment required by the 16-bit application while leaving Windows 11 intact. Windows compatibility mode cannot execute 16-bit code on 64-bit Windows 11 , replacing modern storage hardware does not address the OS incompatibility, and a UEFI shell cannot launch Windows 98 programs. Therefore, creating a Windows 98 virtual machine with a desktop hypervisor is the best option .

Rechargeable batteries in mobile devices have a limited number of charge cycles before their capacity starts to degrade. After a year of regular use, it is typical for a smartphone battery to show signs of reduced charge capacity. Thus, battery replacement is the most appropriate fix for restoring the original battery life. Using a battery-saving app would not restore the original battery health but only might help in managing the existing battery capacity more efficiently. Recalibration procedures are normally advised when the battery meter is inaccurate, not primarily for situations where the battery is genuinely depleting faster due to wear. A factory reset could resolve battery issues related to software, but given the indicative timeline (over a year of usage), the issue is more suggestive of actual battery wear.

Typically, an incorrect color display that gives off a specific color tint, like green, indicates a problem with the cable connection. Checking the connection to ensure that the VGA cable is securely seated on both the monitor and the computer is a primary step in resolving this issue. A loose or damaged pin within the VGA connector can cause certain colors not to display correctly.

When a workstation cannot access the redundancy group of disks, it is typically indicative of a failure within the disk array that is designed to protect against data loss by distributing data across multiple disks. This setup commonly known as Redundant Array of Independent Disks, relies on all disks functioning correctly to maintain data integrity. A failure can lead to warnings or errors upon boot-up as the system cannot access or synchronize the data as configured. The other options are less likely to be the cause of disk redundancy group error messages as they pertain to separate hardware components unrelated to disk arrays.

A 2.5-inch solid-state drive (SSD) will provide significantly better data access speeds and shock resistance compared to a mechanical hard drive, and it will fit in the mobile device's existing 2.5-inch drive slot. While an M.2 SSD could offer even better performance, the scenario implies the device has a 2.5-inch drive bay and does not mention a compatible M.2 slot, making the 2.5-inch SSD the best compatible option.

Calendar synchronization happens over the internet. While a device can display cached entries offline, any new or edited events are not uploaded to the cloud nor downloaded to other devices until the device has an active internet connection.

An active internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data) must be available for the synchronization process. Near-field communication (NFC), airplane mode, and Bluetooth keyboard pairing do not provide the network connectivity that cloud synchronization relies on.

Dead pixels on an LCD screen are individual pixels that no longer function correctly and do not change color to match the image displayed on the screen. In some cases, a few dead pixels are considered to be a characteristic of LCD production and may not be treated as a warranty issue. However, if a device is under warranty and has more than an acceptable number of dead pixels, based on the manufacturer's dead pixel policy, a warranty repair or replacement is the most suitable solution. Software or driver updates are unlikely to fix a dead pixel, as it is a physical malfunction of the display. Attempting to physically repair the pixels, unless professionally qualified, can lead to further damage. Checking graphics card settings would not address dead pixels on the display since this is not a software or configuration issue.

The USB 3.0 standard, also known as SuperSpeed USB, provides a maximum data transfer rate of 5 Gigabits per second (Gbps). USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) has a maximum speed of 480 Megabits per second (Mbps). The USB 3.1 Gen 2 standard supports speeds up to 10 Gbps. USB 1.1 (Full-Speed) has a maximum speed of 12 Mbps.

The correct answer is PoE injectors. Installing PoE injectors is the most cost-effective solution because they add the capability to send power over an existing non-PoE switch through the network cable to power devices like VoIP phones. A PoE-capable switch is incorrect because although it can natively power devices over Ethernet, it would require replacing the current switch, potentially incurring higher costs. Installing New Cat6 cabling is also wrong because Cat6 cabling alone does not provide Power over Ethernet if the switching infrastructure doesn’t support PoE. Lastly, Replacing the phones with battery-operated ones is incorrect because it requires purchasing new hardware and does not make use of the VoIP capabilities or existing infrastructure.

Thermal compound should be applied in a thin layer between the CPU and the heat sink for proper heat transfer.

Unlit link/activity LEDs almost always mean the NIC and switch are not establishing a physical link. The first troubleshooting step at the physical layer is therefore to examine the patch cable: ensure it is fully seated, undamaged, and-if in doubt-swap it with a known-good cable. OS-level or switch-side diagnostics come only after the physical connection has been verified.

Port 25 is the port that SMTP utilizes to send emails. You will also need to list a functioning SMTP server in your script for this to work.

Jitter refers to the variability in time between data packets arriving, caused by network congestion, timing drift, or route changes. High levels of jitter can lead to packets being out of sequence, resulting in poor audio and video quality in streaming and VoIP applications. Understanding jitter is essential for network troubleshooting because it can severely affect the user experience and consistent data flow, which are critical in real-time communications.