A field technician is troubleshooting a newly deployed desktop computer in a healthcare administration building that cannot reach internal file shares or external websites. The operating system reports an autoconfigured APIPA IPv4 address of 169.254.22.80. Following standard bottom-up troubleshooting methodology, which of the following initial actions should the technician perform FIRST?
- Inspect the physical link and activity LEDs on the network interface card and Ethernet wall jack.Answer
- BRun command-line diagnostic tools such as ping and tracert to locate network latency along the gateway path.
- CReconfigure the primary DNS server settings on the workstation to issue a new IP address lease.
- DInstall an unmanaged Layer 2 switch at the user desk to route packets between the APIPA network and the default gateway.
Answer
Inspect the physical link and activity LEDs on the network interface card and Ethernet wall jack.
Inspecting the physical link and activity LEDs on the network card and wall jack directly tests OSI Layer 1. An APIPA address (169.254.x.x) frequently occurs when a physical disconnection prevents the client from communicating with the DHCP server. Standard CompTIA troubleshooting methodology dictates checking physical connections and hardware indicators before attempting logical or software troubleshooting.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Physical Layer (Layer 1) Inspection in Network Troubleshooting Methodology
Estimated Time:1m 30s