"Next Step: Plug in to Another Port"

A technician is sent to troubleshoot a faulty network connection.

The technician tests the cable, and data passes through successfully.

No changes were made in the environment, however, when a network device is connected to the switch using the cable, the switchport will not light up.

Which of the following should the technician attempt NEXT?

A.

Modify the speed and duplex

B.

Plug in to another port

C.

Replace the NIC

D.

Change the switch.

B.

The next step the technician should take is to plug the cable into another port on the switch (Option B).

The fact that data is passing through the cable successfully when tested means that the cable is functioning properly. However, the fact that the switch port is not lighting up when a device is connected indicates that there may be an issue with the switch port itself.

By plugging the cable into another port on the switch, the technician can determine if the issue is specific to that one port or if there is a larger issue with the switch. If the new port lights up and the device is able to connect to the network, then the issue was likely with the original switch port.

If the new port does not light up, then the technician can consider trying to modify the speed and duplex (Option A) or replacing the NIC (Option C). However, it is still possible that there may be an issue with the switch itself, and replacing the switch (Option D) may ultimately be necessary.