CompTIA Network+ (N10-007) — Question 403

A network technician is adding a 10/100 switch with RJ45 connectors to the company network to accommodate new computers being added to a network segment. There is no auto-MDIX port on the switch that needs to be connected to the existing switch on the segment. Which of the following should the technician use to make the connection?

Answer options

• A. An RG-59 cable with BNC connectors
• B. A multi-mode fiber cable
• C. A straight-through Cat5 UTP cable
• D. A cable with TIA/EIA 568a and 568b on each end

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The correct answer is D because using a cable with TIA/EIA 568a and 568b on each end allows for proper pin configuration when connecting switches that do not support auto-MDIX. Option A is incorrect as RG-59 is used for coaxial connections, while option B is not suitable since fiber cables cannot connect to RJ45 ports. Option C is also incorrect because a straight-through Cat5 UTP cable is not the right choice for connecting similar devices like switches in this scenario.