Difficulties Connecting PC to Wired Network: Troubleshooting at OSI Layers

Troubleshooting Network Connectivity Issues: OSI Model Layers

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Question

A user reports difficulties connecting a PC to a wired network.

The PC connects to an IP phone, which is working correctly.

A network technician can verify that other devices successfully connect to the phone.

At which of the following layers of the OSI model is the problem MOST likely located?

A.

Network B.

Physical C.

Transport D.

Application.

A.

Explanations

A user reports difficulties connecting a PC to a wired network.

The PC connects to an IP phone, which is working correctly.

A network technician can verify that other devices successfully connect to the phone.

At which of the following layers of the OSI model is the problem MOST likely located?

A.

Network

B.

Physical

C.

Transport

D.

Application.

A.

Based on the information given, the problem is most likely located at the Physical layer of the OSI model.

The Physical layer is responsible for the actual transmission and reception of data on the network. It deals with the physical connection between devices and the transmission of bits over that connection. In this case, the user is reporting difficulties connecting a PC to a wired network.

Since the PC connects to an IP phone, which is working correctly, it suggests that there is no problem with the higher layers of the OSI model. The IP phone, which is also connected to the wired network, is functioning properly. This means that there is a physical connection between the IP phone and the network that is working as expected.

Since the PC is connected to the IP phone, and the IP phone is working correctly, it suggests that the physical connection between the PC and the IP phone may be the issue. There may be a problem with the cable, the port on the PC, or the port on the IP phone.

Therefore, the problem is most likely located at the Physical layer of the OSI model.