220-1101 Question 99
Single answerInternet appliancesA small retail shop installs a smart thermostat and a network-connected security camera system. The owner reports that both devices worked during setup, but after the ISP replaced the router, the thermostat shows "offline" in its mobile app and the cameras can only be viewed while connected to the store's local Wi-Fi. Internet access from PCs and tablets is working normally. Which action should the technician take FIRST to restore reliable remote access to these internet appliances?
- A
Verify that the internet appliances are connected to the new router's SSID and have valid IP configuration from DHCP
- B
Replace the thermostat and camera system because consumer internet appliances often fail after a router change
- C
Install a dedicated hardware firewall in front of the router so the appliances can re-register with their cloud services
- D
Manually assign public IP addresses to the thermostat and cameras so they are reachable from the internet
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This question tests practical troubleshooting of internet appliances after a network change. On A+ Core 1, candidates are expected to recognize that devices such as smart home/IoT appliances depend first on basic network connectivity: correct SSID, authentication settings, DHCP-provided IP address, valid default gateway, and DNS. If those settings are wrong or the device is still configured for the previous router, cloud features such as remote camera viewing and mobile-app thermostat control will fail even though other computers on the network appear normal. Best practice is to start with Layer 1/Layer 2 and local network verification before replacing hardware or making major security changes. This aligns with standard CompTIA troubleshooting methodology: identify the problem, establish a theory, test the likely cause, and verify full system functionality.
- A. Correct.
Correct. When a router is replaced, internet appliances such as smart thermostats and IP cameras commonly lose connectivity because the Wi-Fi network name/password changed, the devices are still tied to the old SSID, or they failed to obtain a valid IP address, gateway, or DNS settings from DHCP. Confirming local network connectivity is the first troubleshooting step before considering more advanced causes. If the devices cannot join the new wireless network or do not receive valid addressing, their cloud-based remote access features will not function.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A router replacement does not normally damage or invalidate internet appliances. This option reflects a common misconception that IoT devices must be replaced when they stop connecting after network changes. In practice, the issue is usually network configuration, wireless association, or cloud re-registration rather than hardware failure.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A dedicated firewall is not the first step and would not typically be required to restore basic remote access for standard consumer internet appliances. Most smart thermostats and cloud-managed cameras initiate outbound connections to vendor cloud services, so they usually work behind a normal NAT router once they have correct local connectivity. Adding more security infrastructure does not address the likely root cause.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Consumer internet appliances should not be assigned public IP addresses directly. This creates unnecessary exposure to the internet and is not how these devices are typically designed to operate. Standard home and small-business deployments use private IP addresses with DHCP behind a router performing NAT, and remote access is commonly handled through the vendor's cloud service.