Question

Difficulty: MediumCompTIA Troubleshooting Methodology

A network administrator has just completed diagnostic testing and confirmed that a failing Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP+) optical transceiver on a core switch is causing excessive CRC errors and link flapping. According to the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology, which TWO of the following actions should the administrator take next as part of the immediate following step?

  1. Develop a detailed plan of action to replace the faulty optical transceiver while identifying any potential operational impacts.Answer
  2. B
    Perform continuous ping tests and bandwidth benchmarking across the link to confirm interface error counters remain at zero.
  3. Execute the physical replacement of the compromised SFP+ module during an approved maintenance window.Answer
  4. D
    Log the root cause, transceiver serial numbers, and vendor RMA details in the enterprise ticketing system for future reference.

Answer

The administrator should develop a detailed plan of action identifying potential effects and execute the physical replacement of the transceiver during an approved window.
Once a theory of probable cause is confirmed in Step 3 of the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology, the administrator must move to Step 4: 'Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and identify potential effects', followed by implementing the fix. Developing a structured plan to minimize outage risks and subsequently replacing the hardware during a maintenance window represent the correct actions within this phase.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the current phase of the troubleshooting methodology based on the scenario state.
The scenario states that diagnostic testing is complete and the theory of probable cause has been confirmed (Step 3: Test the theory to determine cause).
Determining the completed phase establishes where the administrator is in the CompTIA 6-step sequence.
2
Determine the mandatory next phase in the official CompTIA sequence.
The immediate next phase is Step 4: Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and identify potential effects, then implement the solution or escalate.
CompTIA methodology strictly requires planning and assessing impact prior to implementation, followed by implementing the fix.
3
Select the correct actions that belong strictly to Step 4.
Developing a plan of action while considering potential effects and replacing the module during a scheduled window belong directly to Step 4.
Actions involving verification belong to Step 5, while final logging and documentation belong to Step 6.

Key Concept

CompTIA Troubleshooting Methodology Sequence (Step 3 to Step 4 transition)
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