- A
The switch is not a managed switch and cannot prioritize traffic.
Why wrong: While QoS can help, the primary issue is port speed, not management features. A managed switch isn't required for basic throughput.
- B
The switch's ports are only 100 Mbps, causing a bottleneck when multiple users are active.
Correct. 10/100 switches limit each port to 100 Mbps, which can be saturated by multiple users, leading to packet loss and slowdowns.
- C
The router's uplink port is faulty and needs to be replaced.
Why wrong: The uplink is 1 Gbps, which is sufficient for 15 users. A faulty uplink would cause total disconnection, not just slowdown.
- D
The switch is a hub, not a switch, causing collisions.
Why wrong: The scenario states it's a switch, which uses MAC address tables to avoid collisions. Hubs cause collisions, but that's not the case here.
220-1201 Common Networking Hardware Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of common networking hardware. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A small office with 15 employees uses a single switch to connect all workstations. Users report that the network becomes extremely slow during peak hours, and some packets are being dropped. The switch is a 10/100 model with a 1 Gbps uplink to the router. What is the most likely cause of the slowdown?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The switch's ports are only 100 Mbps, causing a bottleneck when multiple users are active.
The switch operates at 10/100 Mbps per port, meaning each workstation is limited to a maximum of 100 Mbps. With 15 employees active during peak hours, the aggregate traffic can easily exceed the 100 Mbps per-port capacity, causing congestion, packet drops, and slowdowns. The 1 Gbps uplink to the router is not the bottleneck; the bottleneck is the 100 Mbps access ports connecting the workstations.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The switch is not a managed switch and cannot prioritize traffic.
Why it's wrong here
While QoS can help, the primary issue is port speed, not management features. A managed switch isn't required for basic throughput.
- ✓
The switch's ports are only 100 Mbps, causing a bottleneck when multiple users are active.
Why this is correct
Correct. 10/100 switches limit each port to 100 Mbps, which can be saturated by multiple users, leading to packet loss and slowdowns.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The router's uplink port is faulty and needs to be replaced.
Why it's wrong here
The uplink is 1 Gbps, which is sufficient for 15 users. A faulty uplink would cause total disconnection, not just slowdown.
- ✗
The switch is a hub, not a switch, causing collisions.
Why it's wrong here
The scenario states it's a switch, which uses MAC address tables to avoid collisions. Hubs cause collisions, but that's not the case here.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that a slow network during peak hours is always due to a lack of QoS or a faulty uplink, rather than the simple bandwidth limitation of 100 Mbps ports being saturated by multiple users.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
The scenario states it's a switch, which uses MAC address tables to avoid collisions. Hubs cause collisions, but that's not the case here.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, a 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet port uses a 125 MHz clock with 4B/5B encoding, yielding a theoretical maximum throughput of about 94% after overhead (≈94 Mbps). When multiple users perform bandwidth-intensive tasks (e.g., large file transfers, video conferencing), the per-port buffer can overflow, triggering tail drop or RED (Random Early Detection) in managed switches, but in an unmanaged switch, packets are simply dropped. In a real-world scenario, upgrading to a Gigabit switch (10/100/1000) would provide 10x the per-port bandwidth, eliminating the bottleneck even with all 15 users active.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Common Networking Hardware — This question tests Common Networking Hardware — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The switch's ports are only 100 Mbps, causing a bottleneck when multiple users are active. — The switch operates at 10/100 Mbps per port, meaning each workstation is limited to a maximum of 100 Mbps. With 15 employees active during peak hours, the aggregate traffic can easily exceed the 100 Mbps per-port capacity, causing congestion, packet drops, and slowdowns. The 1 Gbps uplink to the router is not the bottleneck; the bottleneck is the 100 Mbps access ports connecting the workstations.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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