CompTIA A+ Practice Test (220-1201)

Secure Shell (SSH) operates over port 22 and provides a secure method of accessing network services over an unsecured network. When it comes to file transfers, SSH is the protocol that is commonly used to secure them. SSH uses encryption to secure the connection between the client and server, making it the best choice for encrypted file transfers. While FTP (port 20/21) is used for file transfers, it is not inherently secure. Telnet (port 23) is used for remote command-line login and does not support file transfers. Port 110 is used by POP3 for email retrieval and does not involve direct file transfer capabilities.

To handle complex video rendering tasks, especially with 4K content, the most important aspect of the video card to prioritize is memory bandwidth. A higher memory bandwidth allows the video card to process the large amounts of data required for high-resolution video more effectively. Although the amount of VRAM is also essential, the card can become a bottleneck regardless of VRAM capacity if the memory bandwidth is too low. The memory bus interface width is a component of memory bandwidth, but bandwidth is the overall performance metric. Thermal design power (TDP) and DirectX support are important considerations for a system build but are secondary to the immediate need for high data throughput for this specific rendering task.

Worn or dirty separation pads (and the related pickup-roller/separator mechanism) cannot provide enough friction differential to separate one sheet from the next, so the printer pulls multiple pages at once. Inspecting, cleaning, or replacing the separation pad is therefore the logical first step. Paper quality, humidity, and static can also contribute to multi-feeds, but those factors should be checked only after ruling out mechanical wear. Firmware updates and print-queue settings do not affect the physical separation of sheets.

An Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address is used when a device is set to obtain an IP address automatically but cannot contact a DHCP server. The operating system then self-assigns an address from the 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254 range. This address allows for communication only with other devices on the same local network segment that are also using APIPA addresses, but it is not routable and cannot be used to access the internet. Seeing an address in this range indicates a problem with DHCP communication.

A NIC operates at the physical and data-link layers of the OSI model. It provides the hardware interface to the network medium (copper, fiber, or radio) and transmits or receives frames so the computer can communicate on the LAN or WAN. It does not allocate IP addresses (a function of a DHCP server), route between networks (a function of a router), or enforce firewall rules (a function of a firewall).

Replacing the CMOS battery should alleviate issues of settings not being saved and time changes. A CMOS battery is necessary to ensure that BIOS configurations are kept in memory after the PC has been shut down.

When synchronizing data from an account such as Google Workspace, one must ensure that the data to be synchronized (in this case, contacts) is selected for sync within the account settings. If it is not selected, no contact data will be transferred to the device. Choosing the correct data types to synchronize is important for successful data synchronization and preventing excessive data usage. Selecting 'All Mail Folders' might seem close, but it is specific to email folders rather than contacts. Similarly, enabling location services and asserting a network connection would not directly affect the synchronization of contact data if the contacts themselves were not chosen for synchronization.

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is a standard email protocol that stores email messages on a mail server and allows the user to view and manipulate them as if they were stored locally on their device's mail client. IMAP operates over port 143, where it maintains a continuous connection to the mail server, allowing users to organize, delete, or mark their email without having to download it first. This continuous connection enables real-time updates of the email status across multiple devices, making it ideal for users who need to access their mail from various locations and devices.

The Fn key (short for "function") is a modifier key that lets laptop makers assign alternate commands-volume, brightness, external-display toggle, and more-to keys that would otherwise have a single purpose. By eliminating the need for dedicated media or hardware-control keys, the Fn key enables a more compact keyboard layout and therefore thinner, lighter laptops.

The safest place to obtain any firmware or software update for a device is the manufacturer's official support site. Laptop vendors test and certify specific BIOS versions for each model. Downloading firmware from other sources-such as a BIOS developer's site, Microsoft, or third-party repositories-risks installing an incompatible version that could cause system instability or failure.

The microUSB 3.0 port is designed to provide fast data transfer rates while also being capable of supplying power to the external hard drive. This is an appropriate choice since the user needs to frequently unplug the device, indicating portability, and would benefit from fast data transfer speeds when the device is connected. Moreover, because the microUSB 3.0 connector is backward compatible, it can still be used with older ports at their respective speeds.

A hybrid cloud model would be the most suitable option as it combines the features of both private and public clouds. It allows sensitive data to remain on-premises in a private cloud, addressing the regulatory requirements, while leveraging the scalability of public cloud services for collaboration tools and email. A private cloud alone would not offer the same level of scalability and resource availability as a hybrid model, and a public cloud does not provide the same level of control over sensitive data. A community cloud involves sharing infrastructure between organizations with common interests, which is not specified as a requirement in this scenario.

Static IP addressing is configured manually on the host. Because the settings are stored locally, the device keeps the same IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway until an administrator changes them. Dynamic addressing relies on a DHCP server, so the address can change at the end of each lease. APIPA is a self-assigned 169.254.x.x address used only when DHCP is unavailable, and NAT/PAT describes translating or sharing addresses on a router, not assigning them to a host.

Global Positioning System (GPS) services enable devices to receive signals from satellites, allowing for the calculation of their exact position on Earth. This technology is widely used in navigation apps and other location-based services. Cellular location services estimate position based on proximity to cell towers, which is generally less precise than GPS. Bluetooth is typically used for indoor, proximity-based location services and does not offer widespread geographic positioning. Wi-Fi is used for local area networking, and while it can assist in location determination (a method known as Wi-Fi positioning), it is not the primary technology for precise, global geographic positioning.

Opening the case verified that nothing was physically loose, completing part of the "identify the problem" stage. The next step is to establish a theory of probable cause, which often involves researching similar symptoms in vendor documentation, technical forums, or an internal knowledge base. Replacing hardware or changing settings comes later, after a probable cause is confirmed.