CompTIA Network+

Category - Management

Samuel replaces a 10BaseT NIC on a workstation with a 10/100BaseT card. He now does not get a link light on the NIC even though he has plugged it in to multiple ports on the switch. He notices from the documentation that this cut rate card has no auto negotiation mode. What is the most likely problem causing the loss of connectivity?
  1. It cannot bind TCP/IP to it
  2. The card is malfunctioning
  3. The card is for a token ring network
  4. There is a port speed mismatch
Explanation
Answer: D - Most likely there is a port speed mismatch between the switch and the card.

Key Takeaway: A NIC has to communicate at the same speed as the switch or else the communication will not take place. Most modern switches and cards can auto negotiate both the speed and duplex setting. For those devices that cannot auto negotiate, the speed and duplex must be made to match manually.
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