easyMultiple Choice
FC0-U71 Practice Question: A technician is setting up a small office network
A technician is setting up a small office network. Which device should be used to connect multiple computers and allow them to communicate with each other?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse a switch with a hub because both have multiple ports and connect computers, but the key distinction is that a switch uses MAC address learning and forwarding logic (Layer 2) while a hub is a simple electrical repeater (Layer 1).
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
✓
Switch
A switch operates at Layer 2 of the OSI model and uses MAC addresses to forward frames only to the specific port where the destination device is connected. This allows multiple computers on the same local network to communicate directly with each other without unnecessary traffic, making it the correct device for interconnecting computers in a small office LAN.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Router
Why it's wrong here
A router forwards traffic between separate IP subnets, so it cannot by itself provide the shared segment multiple computers need to communicate directly. It is tempting because routers do connect networks and often include a built-in switch, but the stem asks for the device whose core role is joining hosts into one local network.
- ✗
Modem
Why it's wrong here
A modem converts signals between the ISP's transmission medium and the local network; it provides a single WAN connection rather than connecting multiple computers to each other. It is tempting because internet access is part of the office setup, and it would be correct where the requirement is WAN connectivity to the provider.
- ✓
Switch
Why this is correct
A switch forwards frames between wired hosts on the same local network, giving each port its own collision domain and full bandwidth. This satisfies the requirement to connect multiple computers so they can communicate directly, unlike a hub, router or modem.
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Hub
Why it's wrong here
A hub repeats every frame out all ports within one collision domain, so attached computers contend for bandwidth and cannot communicate efficiently. It is tempting as a cheap way to link machines, and it would be correct only for passive traffic capture or legacy shared-media topologies, not a modern office network.
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 |
About these practice questions
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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.