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FC0-U71 Practice Question: A network administrator is setting up a small…
A network administrator is setting up a small office network for a new startup. The office has five computers, two printers, and one server. The administrator wants to ensure that all devices can communicate with each other and access the internet. The administrator has decided to use a switch and a router. Which of the following configurations is the MOST appropriate?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume a router can handle all device connections directly, ignoring the practical port count limitation and the fact that a switch is required to scale the LAN beyond the router's built-in ports.
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
✓
Connect all devices to the switch, then connect the switch to the router
A switch creates a local area network (LAN) by forwarding frames based on MAC addresses, allowing all five computers, two printers, and one server to communicate directly. The router provides network address translation (NAT) and a default gateway for internet access, so connecting the switch to the router enables all devices on the switch to reach the internet. This is the standard small office topology because the switch handles internal traffic efficiently at Layer 2, while the router handles Layer 3 routing and internet connectivity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Connect all devices to the switch, then connect the switch to the router
Why this is correct
This allows all devices to communicate locally and access the internet via the router.
- ✗
Connect the server and printers to the switch, computers to the router
Why it's wrong here
This would isolate computers from printers and server on the same subnet.
- ✗
Use a hub instead of a switch
Why it's wrong here
Hubs are less efficient and cause collisions; switches are preferred.
- ✗
Connect all devices directly to the router
Why it's wrong here
Routers have limited ports and are not designed for local traffic switching.
Visual reference
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 FC0-U71 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 FC0-U71 exam.