CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1001) — Question 305

A customer is experiencing issues connecting to a server over the network during normal business hours. Historically, the connection has worked fine, but it has become intermittent over the past 24 hours. Sometimes the share is available, and sometimes the customer gets an error. A technician researches the issue and discovers a new IT vendor visited the customer's site and installed some new computer equipment without consulting the internal team. Which of the following represents the MOST likely reason the customer is having issues connecting to the server?

Answer options

• A. A server was taken offline for routine maintenance.
• B. There is an IP address conflict on the network.
• C. A firewall is blocking the SMB ports.
• D. Disabled legacy protocols need to be updated.

Correct answer: B

Explanation

The correct answer is B, as the introduction of new equipment by an external vendor could lead to an IP address conflict if the new devices were assigned IPs that overlap with existing ones. While option A is plausible, maintenance is typically scheduled and communicated. Option C, a firewall issue, is less likely since the problem is intermittent, and option D is not relevant to the immediate issue described.