CompTIA Network+ (N10-008) — Question 646

A company upgrades its network and PCs to gigabit speeds. After the upgrade, users are not getting the expected performance. Technicians discover that the speeds of the endpoint NICs are inconsistent. Which of the following should be checked first to troubleshoot the issue?

Answer options

• A. Speed mismatches
• B. Load balancer settings
• C. Devices’ duplex settings
• D. Office wiring category

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The first thing to check is the devices’ duplex settings, as mismatched duplex configurations can lead to significant performance issues. While speed mismatches (A) could be a problem, they are generally less common than duplex mismatches. Load balancer settings (B) and office wiring category (D) are less likely to be the immediate cause of inconsistent NIC speeds.