CompTIA Network+ (N10-008) — Question 381

A customer called the help desk to report a network issue. The customer recently added a hub between the switch and the router in order to duplicate the traffic flow to a logging device. After adding the hub, all the other network components that were connected to the switch slowed more than expected. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

Answer options

• A. Duplex mismatch
• B. Flow control failure
• C. STP malfunction
• D. 802.1Q disabled

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is A, Duplex mismatch, because when a hub is introduced into a network with devices operating at different duplex settings, it can lead to collisions and degraded performance. The other options, while they could cause network issues, are less likely to be the primary reason for the slowdown observed after the hub was added.