Free CompTIA 220-1101 Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 2

The correct answer is D. UDP.

UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a connectionless protocol that does not establish a connection before sending or receiving data. UDP simply sends datagrams to the destination without checking if the receiver is ready or not. UDP does not guarantee reliable delivery, error correction, or in-order arrival of the data. UDP is faster and more efficient than connection-oriented protocols for applications that do not require reliability, such as streaming audio or video1

A. SSH (Secure Shell) is not a correct answer. SSH is a connection-oriented protocol that uses TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) as its transport layer. SSH establishes a secure and encrypted connection between two network endpoints before exchanging data. SSH provides authentication, confidentiality, and integrity for remote login and command execution2

B. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is not a correct answer. TCP is a connection-oriented protocol that establishes a connection before sending or receiving data. TCP ensures reliable delivery, error correction, and in-order arrival of the data. TCP is slower and more complex than connectionless protocols, but it provides more reliability and quality of service for applications that require it, such as web browsing or email1

C. HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is not a correct answer. HTTPS is a connection-oriented protocol that uses TCP as its transport layer and SSL/TLS as its security layer. HTTPS establishes a secure and encrypted connection between a web browser and a web server before exchanging data. HTTPS provides authentication, confidentiality, and integrity for web transactions, such as online banking or shopping1

The correct answer is A. Examine the application and device mute controls.

One of the possible reasons for the USB headset microphone not working is that the microphone is muted in the application or device settings. The technician should check if the mute button on the headset or the microphone icon in the application is active. If so, the technician should disable them and try to record sound again.

Some applications may also have their own settings for the microphone input. The technician should make sure that the USB headset is selected as the input device and that the volume level is appropriate. The technician can also test the microphone in different applications to see if the problem is specific to one application or not.

The other options are less likely to solve the problem, because:

•Connecting the headset to a different USB port may not make any difference if the device is already installed and recognized by the system.

•Checking the device’s driver release date may not be relevant if the microphone was working before and no updates were installed recently.

•Increasing the speaker volume setting may not affect the microphone input at all, and may only make the audio playback louder.

For more information and tips on how to fix USB headset problems, you can visit these links:

•USB Headset Mic Not Working? Here Are All Possible Fixes - TechNorms

•Fix microphone problems - Microsoft Support

•USB Headset Not Working? Try These Fixes - Tech News Today

If a user reports that a PC occasionally fails to boot and makes a strange, repetitive, ticking noise, it indicates that the hard drive is suffering from a mechanical failure, also known as the click of death. This means that the hard drive is likely to fail completely soon and lose all the data stored on it. Therefore, the technician should try to extract or backup the data as soon as possible before replacing the hard drive with a new one.

An 8-pin PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) power cable is required to provide adequate power to each GPU in an SLI (Scalable Link Interface) configuration. High-performance GPUs often require more power than the PCIe slot on the motherboard can supply, necessitating additional power directly from the power supply. The 8-pin PCIe connector can deliver more power than the standard 6-pin connector, making it suitable for high-end graphics cards commonly used in SLI configurations. This requirement is consistent with the hardware installation and configuration principles covered in the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Exam Objectives, particularly in sections dealing with hardware components and their installation .

The correct answer is B. 802.11ax.

802.11ax, also known as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E, is the latest wireless standard that can operate in the 6GHz frequency range. This standard was approved by the IEEE in February 2021 and offers higher throughput, lower latency, and improved efficiency compared to previous standards1

The 6GHz frequency range spans from 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz and provides 1200 MHz of additional spectrum for Wi-Fi devices. This means that Wi-Fi 6E can support more channels, wider bandwidths, and less interference than the existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Wi-Fi 6E can access up to 59 20-MHz channels, 29 40-MHz channels, 14 80-MHz channels, or 7 160-MHz channels in the 6GHz band1

802.11ac, also known as Wi-Fi 5, is the previous wireless standard that can only operate in the 5GHz frequency range. It was approved by the IEEE in December 2013 and offers faster speeds and better performance than older standards. However, it cannot use the new spectrum in the 6GHz band and has limited channel availability and capacity in the crowded 5GHz band2

802.11g and 802.11n are older wireless standards that can only operate in the 2.4GHz frequency range. They were approved by the IEEE in June 2003 and October 2009, respectively, and offer lower speeds and performance than newer standards. They also suffer from more interference and congestion in the saturated 2.4GHz band, which is shared by many other devices and technologies32

To terminate an RJ45 port, a technician should use a punchdown tool. This tool is specifically designed to insert and cut (terminate) the wires into a patch panel, keystone jack, or a network surface mount box. The punchdown tool ensures that the wire is properly seated in the terminal block and that the connection is secure. It also trims the excess wire during the termination process, which is not a function that cable testers, toner probes, or cable strippers are designed to perform.

SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) is an interface type that supports high-speed data transfer and high-performance hard drives, such as 15,000rpm drives. SAS drives are commonly used in servers that require fast access and reliability. IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics), eSATA (external SATA), and SATA (Serial ATA) are not suitable for 15,000rpm drives, as they have lower speed and performance.

The correct answer is A. Toner probe.

A toner probe is an electronic test instrument that can help trace wires and locate the port where a printer is connected on a patch panel. A toner probe consists of two parts: a tone generator and a tone detector. The tone generator sends a signal through the cable, and the tone detector picks up the signal at the other end. By using a toner probe, a technician can identify which port on the patch panel corresponds to the printer cable.

A loopback plug is a device that can test the functionality of a network port by sending and receiving signals from the same port. A loopback plug is not useful for locating ports on a patch panel.

A cable tester is a device that can verify the integrity and continuity of a cable by checking for open, short, or miswired connections. A cable tester can also measure the length and resistance of a cable. A cable tester is not useful for locating ports on a patch panel.

A Wi-Fi analyzer is a software or hardware tool that can monitor and analyze wireless networks by scanning for available channels, signal strength, security settings, and other parameters. A Wi-Fi analyzer is not useful for locating ports on a patch panel.

RAID 10 is a combination of RAID 1 and RAID 0, which provides both performance and redundancy. RAID 1 mirrors data across two or more disks, while RAID 0 stripes data across two or more disks. RAID 10 combines these two methods to create a mirrored stripe set, which can tolerate multiple disk failures as long as they are not in the same mirror. RAID 10 requires at least four disks and offers better performance than RAID 5, which uses parity to provide redundancy. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-raid-0-1-5-6-10

The best solution for the developer is D. Sandbox environment.

Client-side virtualization is a technology that allows users to run multiple operating systems and applications on the same device, without affecting the host system or the network1. A sandbox environment is a type of client-side virtualization that creates a secure and isolated space for testing, debugging, or experimenting with code, without risking any damage or interference to the rest of the system2.

A sandbox environment can provide several benefits for the developer, such as23:

•It can simulate different scenarios and conditions for the code, such as different operating systems, browsers, devices, network settings, etc.

•It can protect the code from external threats, such as malware, hackers, or unauthorized access.

•It can prevent the code from affecting other applications or processes on the device or the network, such as consuming resources, causing errors, or leaking data.

•It can allow the developer to easily revert any changes or restore the original state of the system, if something goes wrong.

Therefore, a sandbox environment can provide the best solution for the developer who wants to write code in a setting isolated from other infrastructure to avoid negative impacts of experimental code.

Allow listing is a security technique that allows only specific IP addresses or domains to access a network or a service. By adding the office IP address as an exception, the company can prevent two-factor authentication from being triggered when users are connected to the office Wi-Fi, since the office network is considered trusted. This way, users will only be prompted for two-factor authentication when working outside of the office, which enhances security.

The answer is D. Perform a full backup.

Before replacing a failed drive in a RAID 5 array, the technician should perform a full backup of the data on the array to ensure that no data is lost during the hot swapping process. Hot swapping is the process of replacing a drive without shutting down the system or the array, which allows for faster recovery and minimal downtime. However, hot swapping also involves some risks, such as accidentally removing the wrong drive, damaging the new drive, or encountering another drive failure during the rebuild process. Therefore, performing a full backup is a precautionary measure that can prevent data loss in case of any unexpected errors or complications.

The other options are not the first steps that the technician should take before hot swapping the drive. Documenting the replacement date is a good practice, but it is not as important as backing up the data. Shutting down the array is not necessary for hot swapping, and it may cause more disruption to the system or the users. Safely disposing of the failed drive is a step that should be done after replacing it, not before.

To pair a Bluetooth speaker with a smart device, the user needs to enter the PIN code that is provided by the speaker manufacturer or displayed on the speaker itself. This is a security measure to prevent unauthorized pairing and access. Enabling and configuring MFA, synchronizing data to the cloud, or enabling location services are not required for Bluetooth pairing.

For laptops, the most common type of RAM used is Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module (SODIMM) due to its smaller size compared to DIMMs used in desktops. DDR5 is the latest generation of RAM, offering higher speed and efficiency. ECC (Error-Correcting Code) DIMM DDR5 and Registered DIMM DDR5 are typically used in servers and high-end workstations for error correction and stability, not in standard laptops. High latency DDR5 is not a desirable specification for RAM as lower latency is preferred for faster performance.

A paper path is the route that paper takes through a printer from the input tray to the output tray. A blocked sensor is a sensor that detects paper jams or other errors in the paper path but fails to clear after the problem is resolved. A blocked sensor can cause a printer to display an error message even after a paper jam is cleared. The technician should check the paper path for any debris or obstructions that may trigger the sensor.

The correct answer is A. Number of DIMM slots.

The number of DIMM slots on a motherboard determines how much RAM can be installed on the system. RAM is a crucial component for running multiple large applications at the same time, as it allows the CPU to access data faster and avoid swapping to the hard drive. Having more DIMM slots means that more RAM can be added, which can improve the performance and responsiveness of the system.

B. Number of HDMI ports. This is not a correct answer. The number of HDMI ports on a motherboard determines how many monitors can be connected to the system. HDMI ports are used for video and audio output, but they do not affect the performance of the system when running multiple large applications.

C. Number of PCI slots. This is not a correct answer. The number of PCI slots on a motherboard determines how many expansion cards can be installed on the system. PCI slots are used for adding devices such as sound cards, network cards, or graphics cards, but they do not affect the performance of the system when running multiple large applications.

D. Number of USB ports. This is not a correct answer. The number of USB ports on a motherboard determines how many peripherals can be connected to the system. USB ports are used for connecting devices such as keyboards, mice, printers, or external drives, but they do not affect the performance of the system when running multiple large applications.

Speed is the most important consideration. Striping without parity, also known as RAID 0, is a RAID configuration that splits data across multiple disks without any redundancy. This improves the performance of read and write operations, as multiple disks can work in parallel. However, this also increases the risk of data loss, as any disk failure will result in losing all data on the array. Therefore, striping without parity is suitable for situations where speed is prioritized over reliability. According to the CompTIA Core1 objectives, one of the advantages of RAID 0 is increased speed. A research paper on RAID performance also confirms that RAID 0 has the highest throughput among all RAID levels.

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:

If performance is not a primary concern and the user requires large, cost-effective storage, a 2TB 5400rpm SATA HDD is ideal. It offers high capacity at a lower price point than SSDs and faster HDDs.

Option A: NVMe drives offer exceptional speed but are significantly more expensive per GB and not necessary when read/write speed is not a concern.

Option B: RAID 1 improves redundancy but cuts usable capacity in half and uses expensive SSDs.

Option D: SAS drives are fast and reliable but are enterprise-grade and expensive — overkill for desktop use.

CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam Objective Reference:

Objective 1.3: Given a scenario, install and configure storage devices.

The correct answer is B. Serial.

A serial cable is a type of cable that can be used to connect devices that use serial communication, which is a method of sending data one bit at a time over a single wire. Serial cables are often used for console access to network devices, such as routers, switches, firewalls, or servers, when other methods of connection, such as SSH (Secure Shell), are not available or not working.

A DB9 connector is a type of connector that has nine pins and is commonly used for serial cables. DB stands for D-subminiature, which is a family of connectors that have a D-shaped metal shield and different numbers of pins. DB9 connectors are also known as DE-9 connectors, as they belong to the E size category of D-subminiature connectors. DB9 connectors can support various serial standards, such as RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485.

A parallel cable is a type of cable that can be used to connect devices that use parallel communication, which is a method of sending data multiple bits at a time over multiple wires. Parallel cables are often used for connecting printers or scanners to computers, but they are not commonly used for network devices or serial connections.

An optical cable is a type of cable that can be used to transmit data using light signals over fiber-optic strands. Optical cables can offer high-speed, high-bandwidth, and low-interference data transmission over long distances. Optical cables are often used for network communication, such as Ethernet, or audio/video transmission, such as HDMI or TOSLINK.

A USB cable is a type of cable that can be used to connect devices that use the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard, which is a protocol that allows data and power transmission between devices. USB cables can support various types of devices, such as keyboards, mice, cameras, flash drives, or chargers. USB cables have different versions and connectors, such as USB-A, USB-B, USB-C, or Micro-USB.

Therefore, the only cable that uses a DB9 connector is a serial cable. For more information about cables and connectors, you can refer to the following web search results: [What Is a Serial Cable?], [What Is a Parallel Cable?], [What Is an Optical Cable?], [What Is a USB Cable?].

One of the possible causes of a laptop randomly turning off is liquid damage, which can cause short circuits, corrosion, and overheating of the internal components1. Liquid damage can be hard to detect, especially if the laptop has been dried or cleaned after the spill2. However, one of the indicators of liquid damage is the presence of small sticker paper within the device that changes color from red to blue3.

These stickers are called liquid contact indicators (LCIs), and they are designed to show if a device has been exposed to water or other liquids3. LCIs are usually red when dry, but they turn blue or purple when wet3. LCIs are often placed near the ports, battery, keyboard, and motherboard of laptops and other electronic devices3. LCIs can help technicians diagnose liquid damage and determine if the device is covered by warranty or not3.