220-1101 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Practice Question
A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer in a manufacturing facility. The computer loses network connectivity whenever a nearby floor buffer (motor) is turned on. The link light on the NIC turns off during these events. The technician has already replaced the Ethernet cable with a shielded Cat6 cable and moved the computer to a different electrical circuit. The problem persists. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse a physical-layer EMI issue with a configuration or hardware fault, leading them to choose NIC replacement or port speed changes instead of recognizing that the link light dropping is a classic symptom of conducted interference that requires a ferrite choke or better shielding.
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
✓
Install a ferrite choke on the network cable.
The floor buffer's motor generates strong electromagnetic interference (EMI) that couples onto the unshielded network cable, corrupting the signal and causing the NIC's link light to turn off. Installing a ferrite choke on the cable suppresses common-mode EMI by acting as a low-pass filter, blocking high-frequency noise while allowing the data signal to pass. Since the technician already replaced the cable with shielded Cat6 and isolated the electrical circuit, the next logical step is to add a ferrite choke to attenuate the remaining conducted interference.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Replace the network interface card (NIC).
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the NIC may not resolve the issue if the root cause is external EMI affecting the cable. The NIC itself is likely functioning correctly when not disrupted.
- ✓
Install a ferrite choke on the network cable.
Why this is correct
A ferrite choke attenuates high-frequency electromagnetic interference, which can prevent signal loss and link drops caused by the motor's EMI. This is a common and effective solution.
- ✗
Change the switch port configuration from auto-negotiation to 100 Mbps full duplex.
Why it's wrong here
Configuring speed and duplex manually might help with mismatched settings, but it does not address EMI issues. The problem occurs only when the motor is on, indicating external interference.
- ✗
Disable the NIC's power management settings in the operating system.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling power management prevents the OS from turning off the NIC to save power, but this is unrelated to external interference causing link drops.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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