A+ 220-1101 CompTIA Study Notes

A paper path is the route that paper takes through a printer from the input tray to the output tray. A blocked sensor is a sensor that detects paper jams or other errors in the paper path but fails to clear after the problem is resolved. A blocked sensor can cause a printer to display an error message even after a paper jam is cleared. The technician should check the paper path for any debris or obstructions that may trigger the sensor.

A custom hosts file is a file that maps hostnames to IP addresses, allowing the user to access websites or servers by their names instead of their numerical addresses. For example, a user can add a line like 192.168.1.100 myserver.local to their hosts file and then access the server by typing myserver.local in their browser. However, this method only works if the IP address of the server does not change. If the server is configured with a dynamic IP address, which means it can be assigned a different IP address by the network router or DHCP server, then the hosts file entry will become invalid and the user will not be able to connect to the server by its hostname. Therefore, the technician should ensure that the server is configured with a static IP address, which means it has a fixed and permanent IP address that does not change. This way, the hosts file entry will always point to the correct IP address of the server and the user will be able to ping the server hostname from their computer.

Port flapping, also known as link flapping, is a situation in which a physical interface on the switch continually goes up and down, causing intermittent connectivity for the devices connected to that port12. Port flapping can be caused by various factors, such as faulty or incompatible cables, hardware issues, configuration errors, or other network problems123.

The network logs show that interface 0/1 on the switch changes its status from up to down and vice versa several times within a short period of time. This indicates that the port is flapping and affecting the network connectivity. The log also shows that the switch was elected as the root bridge, which means that it is the central point of a spanning tree protocol (STP) network. STP is a protocol that prevents loops in a network by blocking some ports and creating a tree-like topology. Port flapping can cause STP to recalculate the topology and change the status of the ports, which can further disrupt the network performance2.

To troubleshoot port flapping, the technician should check the physical and hardware aspects of the device, such as cables, SFPs, gigabit interface converters, and power supplies. The technician should also check the configuration settings of the port, such as auto-negotiation, duplex mode, speed, power-saving features, and smartport. The technician should also check for other network issues that may cause port flapping, such as link synchronization and spanning tree issues123.

The correct answer is D. Identify the problem.

The first troubleshooting step that the technician should perform is to identify the problem. This means that the technician should gather information from the user and the system, and analyze the symptoms and the error messages to determine the nature and the scope of the issue. Identifying the problem can help to define the expected outcome, establish a theory of probable cause, and plan a course of action.

The other options are not the first troubleshooting steps, but they are part of the troubleshooting process that should be performed after identifying the problem. Establishing a plan of action (option A) means that the technician should devise a strategy to resolve the issue, based on the theory of probable cause and the available resources. Testing the theory (option C) means that the technician should verify if the theory of probable cause is correct, by performing tests or experiments on the system or its components. Documenting the findings (option B) means that the technician should record and report the results of each troubleshooting step, as well as the final solution and outcome.

For more information about troubleshooting steps and best practices, you can refer to the following web search results: [Troubleshooting Steps for Beginners], [Troubleshooting Methodology], [How to Troubleshoot Like an Expert].