A systems administrator is troubleshooting a physical server that has been randomly rebooting. The administrator theorized that the CPU was overheating. After monitoring the server's hardware sensors via the iDRAC, the administrator confirmed that CPU temperatures spike to critical levels just before each shutdown, which confirms the theory. According to the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology, what is the very next step the administrator should take?
Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem.
Verify full system functionality and implement preventive measures.
Establish a new theory of probable cause.
Implement the solution by immediately replacing the CPU cooling fan.
The correct answer is to establish a plan of action. According to the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology, after a theory has been tested and confirmed, the next step is to create a plan to resolve the issue. This plan would include steps like obtaining the replacement component (a new CPU fan/heatsink), scheduling a maintenance window to minimize user impact, notifying stakeholders, and outlining the exact procedure for the repair. Implementing the solution is the step that follows planning. Verifying system functionality happens after the solution is implemented. Establishing a new theory would only be necessary if the current theory was proven incorrect.