Network Cable Issue: Exam Question Solution

A network technician is responding to a user's trouble ticket.

After replacing the network patch cable with a longer cable, the user is no longer connecting to the network.

The network administrator tests the patch cable with a tester and confirms the cable is not faulty.

Which of the following is the issue with the newly installed cable?

A.

The user ordered Cat5e cable instead of Cat3.

B.

A crossover cable was installed.

C.

The total cable run exceeds the maximum distance.

D.

There is a network speed mismatch between the computer and the switch.

C.

The issue with the newly installed cable is that the total cable run exceeds the maximum distance.

In networking, the maximum distance that a cable can run without signal degradation is known as the maximum cable length or maximum cable distance. The maximum cable length depends on the type of cable being used, as well as the type of network being deployed.

For example, Ethernet over twisted pair cable (e.g., Cat5e, Cat6) has a maximum cable length of 100 meters (328 feet) for a single segment. If the cable run exceeds this distance, the signal may degrade and result in connectivity issues, such as the user no longer connecting to the network.

In this scenario, the network technician replaced the network patch cable with a longer cable, which likely exceeded the maximum cable length for the network. This caused the user to no longer connect to the network. The network administrator confirmed that the cable was not faulty by testing it with a cable tester, which ruled out the possibility of a physical issue with the cable itself.

The other options provided are not relevant to the issue described in the scenario. Option A states that the user ordered Cat5e cable instead of Cat3, which would not necessarily cause connectivity issues. Option B suggests that a crossover cable was installed, but this would only be relevant if the cable was being used to connect two network devices directly without a switch or hub in between. Option D suggests a network speed mismatch, which would not necessarily cause a complete loss of connectivity.

Therefore, the correct answer is C, the total cable run exceeds the maximum distance.