How to Resolve Printer-Workstation Connectivity Issues?

N10-008 By islever Editorial Last updated

Short answer

B The IP address on the printer

Question

A network administrator receives a call about a network printer that is not working for a workstation. The network administrator verifies the printer is turned on. Given the following information: Router's gateway IP: 10.0.0.1/25 Device: Printer - Device: Workstation - Which of the following should the administrator change to remediate this issue? (Choose two.) - Exhibit: How to Resolve Printer-Workstation Connectivity Issues? - Exhibit: How to Resolve Printer-Workstation Connectivity Issues?
  1. The subnet on the router
  2. The IP address on the printer Correct Answer
  3. The subnet on the printer
  4. The IP address on the router
  5. The subnet on the workstation

Key Takeaways

Tests the ability to identify mismatched network IDs and subnet masks; the common trap involves focusing on the visibly incorrect printer settings while overlooking the workstation’s mask mismatch.

This CompTIA Network+ N10-008 practice question evaluates proper IP addressing and subnet mask alignment for local network communication. Consensus among candidates and experts confirms that updating the printer’s IP address and correcting the workstation’s subnet mask restores connectivity.

Common mistake: Candidates often select Option C instead of E because the printer’s subnet mask also appears incorrect, but exam objectives prioritize aligning the active endpoints by fixing the printer’s IP and the workstation’s mask.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

The router gateway is configured as 10.0.0.1/25, which corresponds to a subnet mask of 255.255.255.128 and a network range of 10.0.0.0–10.0.0.127. For seamless communication, both the workstation and printer must reside within this exact range and share the same subnet mask. Changing the printer’s IP to fall within the 10.0.0.0/25 block and adjusting the workstation’s subnet mask to 255.255.255.128 ensures they recognize each other as being on the same local network segment.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Options A and D involve modifying the router’s configuration, which is unnecessary since the gateway itself is correctly defined for the intended network. Option C suggests changing the printer’s subnet, but simply assigning the printer a valid IP within the existing /25 network resolves the routing mismatch more efficiently. Adjusting the router’s subnet would disrupt other connected devices and violate the principle of least change.

Community Comment Notes

Multiple high-rated comments explicitly confirm that B and E are the correct pair, noting that the visual diagram shows a clear CIDR and mask mismatch between the workstation and router. Comment [2] accurately breaks down how the printer sits on a completely different network segment while the workstation uses an overly restrictive mask. Several users initially debated Option C but agreed that B and E best satisfy the choose-two requirement per official exam standards.

Exam Strategy

Always convert CIDR notation to decimal subnet masks when comparing device configurations, as exam questions frequently test this conversion skill. When Layer 3 connectivity fails, systematically verify the network ID first, then adjust host-specific IPs or masks to achieve alignment without altering core infrastructure.

Community Votes

B
36%
E
36%
C
29%

36% of anonymous learners picked answer B. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 7 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 7

  1. interestingtimes 👍 5 Answered E
    B & E are correct. Subnet is 255.255.255.128.
  2. a87d6a4 👍 4 Answered C
    B. The IP address on the printer E. The subnet on the workstation The printer’s IP address and subnet place it in a different network segment than the workstation. The workstation and router are on the 10.0.0.0/26 network, while the printer is on the 10.1.0.0/25 network. Changing the printer’s IP address to match the workstation’s subnet or modifying the workstation’s subnet to match the printer’s network can resolve the issue. The other options involve changing router settings or subnets that do not align with the existing network configuration and would not directly address the connectivity problem.
  3. gibby7236 👍 3 Answered B
    The answer is the printer IP is wrong The workstation Subnetmask is wrong
  4. Marinos_89 👍 2
    B. The IP address on the printer: If the printer's IP address is outside the 10.0.0.0/25 range, it should be changed to a valid address within this range (e.g., 10.0.0.10). C. The subnet on the printer: Ensure that the subnet mask on the printer matches the router’s subnet mask (255.255.255.128) to ensure it recognizes the correct network segment.
  5. jcre 👍 2 Answered B
    This question has 2 answers ... B & E
Show 2 more comments
  1. Dadadagreat 👍 3
    B and E
  2. Dadadagreat 👍 1
    B and C are the answers

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