Joe's Jolly Network Dilemma

What seems to be the issue for Joe in connecting two hubs to add a new segment to his local network?

A. One of the hubs is defective.
B. The new hub is powered down.
C. The patch cable needs to be a CAT6 patch cable.
D. The technician used a straight-through cable.

Answer:

Option D. is correct

Joe, a technician, is facing a fun challenge while trying to connect two hubs to expand his local network. He encounters an interesting situation where he can only access the new network segment from a workstation within that segment. Let's delve into the details of the issue and unravel the solution to Joe's jolly network dilemma.

Joe uses a CAT5 patch cable to link the two hubs in order to incorporate a new segment into his network. However, he hits a roadblock when he is unable to reach the new network segment from his workstation. The key point to note here is that he can connect to it from a workstation within that segment. This implies that the problem lies in the type of cable Joe used to connect the hubs.

The most likely problem in this scenario is that Joe used a straight-through cable instead of a crossover cable. When connecting similar devices like hubs or switches, a crossover cable is required to establish communication effectively. In Joe's case, using a straight-through cable hinders the connection between the hubs, leading to the inability to access the new network segment from his workstation.

By switching to a crossover cable, Joe can resolve the connectivity issue between the hubs and successfully add the new segment to his local network. It's a simple yet crucial solution that highlights the importance of using the appropriate cables for specific networking tasks. Joe's jolly network dilemma serves as a reminder to always double-check the equipment and connections to ensure smooth network operations.