100-140 Question 188
Single answerA user reports that their laptop cannot connect to the internet. You are tasked with troubleshooting the issue. You notice that the laptop is unable to ping the default gateway and also has an IP address starting with 169.254. What is the most likely cause of this issue?
- A
The laptop is not connected to a DHCP server.
- B
The network cable is faulty.
- C
The wireless network password is incorrect.
- D
The firewall is blocking internet access.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
When a device cannot connect to a DHCP server, it assigns itself an APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) address in the 169.254 range. This is a clear indication of an issue with the device's ability to communicate with the DHCP server, which is often caused by a misconfiguration or connectivity problem with the DHCP server.
- A. Correct.
When a device has an IP address starting with 169.254, it indicates that it could not obtain an IP address from the DHCP server. This is the most likely cause of the issue.
- B. Incorrect.
While a faulty network cable can prevent connectivity, it would not specifically result in a 169.254 IP address. This is not the most likely cause in this case.
- C. Incorrect.
An incorrect wireless network password would prevent the laptop from connecting to the access point altogether, but it would not result in a 169.254 IP address.
- D. Incorrect.
A firewall blocking internet access would not prevent the laptop from obtaining an IP address from the DHCP server and would not cause a 169.254 IP address.