200-301 Question 407
Single answerA network engineer is troubleshooting connectivity issues within a small office network. The engineer uses a ping command to test connectivity between two devices and receives a 'Request Timed Out' message. Which troubleshooting technique should the engineer use next to further diagnose the issue?
- A
Use the traceroute command to determine the path to the destination device.
- B
Check the IP configuration of both devices to ensure they are on the same subnet.
- C
Replace the network cables between the devices and re-test connectivity.
- D
Restart both devices to resolve any temporary issues.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
When troubleshooting connectivity issues, it is important to first verify the basic configuration. Checking the IP configuration ensures both devices are properly configured and can communicate within the same subnet. This is a fundamental step before moving on to more advanced troubleshooting techniques like traceroute or hardware checks.
- A. Incorrect.
Traceroute is useful for identifying the path to a destination, but it does not address issues such as incorrect IP addressing or subnetting, which are common causes of connectivity problems.
- B. Correct.
Checking the IP configuration ensures that both devices are configured correctly and are on the same subnet, which is essential for communication within a local network.
- C. Incorrect.
Replacing network cables is a valid troubleshooting step in cases of suspected hardware failure, but there is no indication in this scenario that the cables are faulty.
- D. Incorrect.
Restarting devices can resolve some temporary issues, but it is not a systematic troubleshooting step and does not address underlying configuration problems.