A systems administrator is tasked with the initial configuration of a new rack-mount server. The server is powered on but has not yet been assigned an IP address, making remote management tools unavailable. The administrator needs to establish a direct, command-line connection to the server's management interface using a modern laptop that lacks a native DB-9 serial port. Which of the following combinations of hardware is MOST likely required to complete this task?
A crossover cable and an SFP+ transceiver.
A USB Type-C to Ethernet adapter and a patch cable.
A KVM switch and a standard VGA cable.
A USB-to-serial adapter and a rollover (console) cable.
The correct answer is a USB-to-serial adapter and a rollover (console) cable. This combination is the standard method for connecting a modern computer, which typically lacks a serial port, to the console port of a server or network device for direct command-line access. The USB-to-serial adapter provides the necessary serial interface via a USB port. The rollover cable, also known as a console cable, has a specific pinout designed to connect a terminal (the administrator's laptop) to the device's console port (often an RJ-45 connector).
A crossover cable and an SFP+ transceiver are used for establishing a direct, high-speed Ethernet network connection between two devices, which is not applicable here since the server has no IP configuration and a console connection is required.
A KVM switch and a VGA cable are used for managing a server via its local graphical interface (keyboard, video, mouse), not for the specific task of establishing a command-line session through a dedicated serial console port.
A USB Type-C to Ethernet adapter and a patch cable would provide the administrator's laptop with a wired network connection but would not facilitate a direct serial console connection to the server.