200-301 Question 72
Single answerA network engineer is tasked with designing a high-speed, long-distance connection between two data centers that are 20 kilometers apart. The link must support data transfer rates of 10 Gbps. Which type of cabling should the engineer choose?
- A
Single-mode fiber
- B
Multimode fiber
- C
Cat6 copper cable
- D
Coaxial cable
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
For a 20-kilometer connection requiring 10 Gbps speeds, single-mode fiber is the most appropriate choice. It is designed for long-distance, high-speed data transmission, whereas multimode fiber and copper cables are limited by distance or speed constraints. Coaxial cable is not relevant for this type of application.
- A. Correct.
Single-mode fiber is the correct choice for long-distance, high-speed connections. It can support distances of up to 40 km or more and is ideal for 10 Gbps or higher speeds.
- B. Incorrect.
Multimode fiber is typically used for shorter distances (up to 500 meters for 10 Gbps speeds). It is not suitable for a 20-kilometer link.
- C. Incorrect.
Cat6 copper cables are limited to a maximum distance of 100 meters for 10 Gbps speeds. They are not appropriate for long-distance connections like 20 kilometers.
- D. Incorrect.
Coaxial cable is not used for high-speed, long-distance data center connections. It is more common in older or specialized use cases such as cable television.