Question

Difficulty: Very hardCompTIA Troubleshooting Methodology

A network engineer is investigating intermittent packet loss and TCP session resets across a newly deployed hybrid cloud IPsec VPN tunnel connecting a corporate data center to an AWS VPC. After executing packet captures, the engineer confirms the hypothesis: transit packets exceeding the path MTU are being dropped because the DF (Don't Fragment) bit is set and ICMP Type 3 Code 4 messages are blocked by an upstream firewall. According to the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology, which TWO of the following actions should the engineer perform NEXT?

  1. Develop a structured implementation strategy to adjust MSS clamping and allow required ICMP control traffic.Answer
  2. Analyze the potential operational impacts and adverse effects of applying interface MTU modifications on active production sessions.Answer
  3. C
    Update the centralized change management database and network repository with root-cause analysis findings.
  4. D
    Perform end-to-end ping sweeps with max-sized payloads to confirm full system functionality and stability.

Answer

The technician should develop a structured implementation strategy to adjust MSS clamping and analyze the potential operational impacts of the changes on production sessions.
In the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology, once a theory of probable cause has been tested and confirmed (Step 3), the network professional must proceed to Step 4: Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and identify potential effects. Developing a structured implementation plan (adjusting MSS clamping and ICMP rules) and evaluating potential operational side effects on live production sessions are both essential components of this specific step.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine current phase in CompTIA methodology
The engineer confirmed the theory through diagnostic testing (Step 3: Test the theory to determine cause).
Identifying the current position in the sequence determines which step comes next.
2
Identify the immediate next phase in the methodology
The next phase is Step 4: Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and identify potential effects.
CompTIA guidelines dictate that once cause is proven, remediation planning and risk assessment must occur before implementation or verification.
3
Evaluate candidate actions against Step 4 requirements
Formulating the deployment plan (MSS clamping adjustments) and assessing potential operational impacts directly fulfill Step 4.
Planning actions without considering side effects or skipping to final verification/documentation violates official procedural order.

Key Concept

CompTIA Troubleshooting Methodology Step Progression (Test Theory → Plan of Action)
Rate this question