100-150 Question 144
Select 3A small business is experiencing slow network performance and frequent downtime. Upon inspection, you discover that their network infrastructure consists of unmanaged switches, a single router, and outdated cabling. Which of the following actions would best improve the network's performance and reliability?
- A
Upgrade the cabling to a higher category, such as Cat 6 or Cat 6a.
- B
Replace unmanaged switches with managed switches that support VLAN segmentation.
- C
Install a second router to create redundancy in the network.
- D
Implement a wireless mesh network to replace all wired connections.
- E
Ensure the firmware on all network devices is up-to-date.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: A, B, E
Explanation
Improving network infrastructure involves addressing physical and logical components. Upgrading the cabling ensures better performance and reduced interference. Managed switches provide better control over network traffic and allow for segmentation to optimize performance. Keeping firmware updated helps maintain stability and reliability. These actions collectively address the slow performance and downtime issues described in the scenario.
- A. Correct.
Upgrading the cabling to a higher category (e.g., Cat 6 or Cat 6a) can increase bandwidth and reduce crosstalk, improving the network's overall performance.
- B. Correct.
Replacing unmanaged switches with managed switches allows for better traffic control, segmentation through VLANs, and troubleshooting capabilities, which improves both performance and reliability.
- C. Incorrect.
While adding a second router may provide redundancy, the scenario does not mention a need for redundant gateways, and this is unlikely to directly address the performance and downtime issues.
- D. Incorrect.
Replacing all wired connections with a wireless mesh network is not appropriate in this scenario, as wired connections are generally more reliable and offer better performance than wireless solutions.
- E. Correct.
Updating firmware on all devices ensures that the network is running on the latest software, which can fix bugs, improve performance, and enhance security.