A network engineer is troubleshooting an issue where a newly installed switch is not connecting to the network. After confirming the switch configuration is correct, the engineer establishes a theory that a cable fault is the probable cause. According to the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology, what is the best next step?
According to the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology, the step after establishing a theory of probable cause is to test that theory to determine the actual cause. In this scenario, the theory is a cable fault, so the most direct way to test it is with a cable tester. This tool specifically checks for physical layer issues like opens, shorts, and improper termination. Using higher-level tools like ping or traceroute would be ineffective if a physical layer fault prevents a link. Replacing the switch is a more drastic step (implementing a solution) that should only be taken after the cause is verified.
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