Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A user reports that their desktop computer is experiencing slow network speeds, especially when transferring large files to a server on the same local network. The user's computer and the server are both connected to a managed gigabit switch. The user's NIC and the server NIC are both gigabit capable. The technician checks the switch port configuration and sees that the port for the user's computer is set to speed 1000 and duplex full. The user's computer shows a link speed of 100 Mbps and half duplex in the operating system. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
The Ethernet cable is Cat5e and cannot support gigabit speeds.
Cat5e cable is rated for gigabit Ethernet up to 100 meters. It is capable of supporting 1000 Mbps.
B
Best answer
The switch port has a mismatch between the configured speed/duplex and the NIC's auto-negotiation settings.
Correct. When one side is hard-set and the other is set to auto-negotiate, negotiation fails and the link often drops to a lower speed (100/half). Setting both to auto or both to the same manual settings resolves this.
C
Distractor review
The user's computer has a faulty NIC driver.
A faulty driver could cause connectivity issues or no link, but it would not cause a consistent 100/half link when the switch is configured for 1000/full. The driver reports what the hardware negotiates.
D
Distractor review
The server's NIC is defective.
The server is not the cause of the client's reported link speed; the issue is between the client and the switch.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A user reports intermittent network connectivity on a desktop computer. The technician observes that the Ethernet link light on the NIC turns off for a few seconds and then turns back on. The cable passes a wiremap test, the switch port is verified good with another device, and the NIC driver is updated. The issue occurs more frequently when the computer's case fan runs at high speed. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
Question 2
A workstation is unable to connect to the internet. The technician runs the 'ipconfig' command and sees the IPv4 address is 169.254.15.200 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. The workstation can ping other devices on the local subnet but cannot ping the default gateway or any external addresses. Which TWO actions should the technician take to resolve this issue? (Select two.)
Question 3
A workstation is connected to a managed switch. It obtains a valid IP address (192.168.10.50) from the DHCP server, but it cannot ping the default gateway (192.168.10.1). The link light on both the workstation NIC and the switch port are solid green. Other workstations on the same switch CAN ping the default gateway successfully. The technician accesses the switch management interface and finds that the workstation's port is configured as an access port on VLAN 10. The default gateway is located on VLAN 20. An inter-VLAN router is configured but not explicitly allowing VLAN 10 access to VLAN 20. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the problem?
Question 4
A company develops a web application that relies on a custom library available only for a specific Linux distribution. They want to deploy the application in the cloud with minimal administrative overhead, but they need full control over the software stack, including the ability to install the custom library and configure the web server. Which cloud service model BEST meets these requirements?
Question 5
A company has a legacy virtual machine running on a deprecated hypervisor (Hyper-V). They want to migrate this VM to a new hypervisor (VMware vSphere) hosted in a private cloud while preserving the VM's configuration, installed applications, and data. The migration must be performed with minimal downtime. Which of the following methods is MOST appropriate?
Question 6
A company hosts a critical database on a virtual machine in a public cloud. The database requires persistent storage that must be retained even if the VM is terminated. The storage must also be accessible from multiple VMs simultaneously for a future high-availability configuration. Which type of cloud storage BEST meets these requirements?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1101 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The switch port has a mismatch between the configured speed/duplex and the NIC's auto-negotiation settings. — When a switch port is manually configured with a specific speed and duplex (1000/full), and the connected NIC is set to auto-negotiate (the default), the auto-negotiation process fails because the switch is not sending negotiation bursts. The NIC then falls back to a lower common speed, often 100 Mbps half-duplex. This mismatch explains why the computer reports a slower link speed. The proper fix is to set both ends to auto-negotiate or both to exactly the same manual settings. Cat5e cable (A) is capable of gigabit; faulty driver (C) would likely show connection errors or no link; server NIC (D) is not directly causing the client's reported speed.
What should I do if I get this 220-1101 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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