TestOut LabSim A+ Certification Practice Exam

Which mechanisms could you use to resolve a hostname into its associated IP address?

1. ARP and Telnet

2. FTP and HTTP

3. Hosts file and DNS

4. Ping and Packet Sniffer

The correct answer is: Hosts file and DNS

Resolving a hostname into its associated IP address is primarily accomplished through mechanisms like the Hosts file and DNS. The Hosts file is a local text file that maps hostnames to IP addresses. When a computer attempts to reach a hostname, it first checks this file to see if an associated IP address exists. This mechanism allows for quick resolution of frequently used or local addresses without needing to query an external server. DNS, or Domain Name System, is the most widely used method for hostname resolution on the internet. It operates as a distributed database that provides an easy way to convert human-readable domain names into numerical IP addresses. When a user enters a hostname, the DNS resolver queries DNS servers to find the corresponding IP address, allowing users to access websites and services by name instead of by a complex series of numbers. The other choices do not function as methods for resolving hostnames. ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is used for mapping a known IP address to a MAC address on a local network, while Telnet, FTP, and HTTP are protocols for data transmission but do not resolve hostnames. Ping is a tool used to test the reachability of hosts on a network, but it requires an existing resolution of the hostname to function effectively, and a Packet