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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is installing a new server in a data…
A technician is installing a new server in a data center and needs to connect it to a 10GbE switch. The server has an SFP+ port, and the switch also has SFP+ ports. The technician has a selection of cables: Cat6a, Cat7, multimode fiber with LC connectors, and single-mode fiber with SC connectors. Which cable should the technician use?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Multimode fiber patch cable with LC connectors.
This question tests knowledge of 10GbE connectivity options. The correct answer is multimode fiber with LC connectors, as SFP+ ports typically use fiber or DAC cables, and multimode fiber with LC is common for short-range 10GbE in data centers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Cat6a cable with RJ45 connectors.
Why it's wrong here
Cat6a cable supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) but is limited to a maximum distance of 55 meters for this speed. While it uses standard RJ45 connectors, connecting a server at 10GbE typically requires an SFP+ port on the server and a specialized 10GBASE-T SFP+ transceiver. These copper SFP+ modules consume more power and generate more heat than fiber transceivers, making them less ideal for high-density server installations in a data center environment where fiber is preferred for efficiency and reach.
- ✗
Cat7 cable with RJ45 connectors.
Why it's wrong here
Cat7 cable is not widely adopted or recognized as a standard for 10GbE deployments within typical data center environments. Although it offers improved shielding, its use with RJ45 connectors for 10GbE still faces the same distance limitations and power consumption issues as Cat6a when using 10GBASE-T SFP+ transceivers. Data center infrastructure primarily relies on established standards like Cat6a for copper or, more commonly, fiber optic cabling for 10GbE and higher speeds.
- ✓
Multimode fiber patch cable with LC connectors.
Why this is correct
Multimode fiber patch cables with LC connectors are the industry standard for 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) server connections in data centers. These cables are specifically designed to work with SFP+ (Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus) transceivers, which are common on server network interface cards (NICs) for high-speed connectivity. Multimode fiber provides reliable, high-bandwidth performance over the typical short-to-medium distances found within a data center rack or between racks, offering excellent signal integrity and low latency.
- ✗
Single-mode fiber patch cable with SC connectors.
Why it's wrong here
Single-mode fiber is primarily designed for extremely long-distance data transmission, often exceeding several kilometers, making it an unnecessary and more expensive choice for connecting a server within a data center rack or between adjacent racks. Furthermore, SC connectors are larger and less common for high-density SFP+ ports on modern server NICs, where the smaller, more compact LC connector is the prevailing standard due to its higher port density capabilities.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.