TestOut LabSim A+ Certification Practice Exam

For an Ethernet network using the 10Base-T standard, what is a limitation of such a network?

1. It only allows connection of 10 devices

2. It has a low data transfer rate of 10 Mbps

3. It requires optical fibers instead of copper cables

4. It has a maximum distance of 500 meters

The correct answer is: It has a low data transfer rate of 10 Mbps

The limitation of an Ethernet network using the 10Base-T standard is that it has a low data transfer rate of 10 Mbps. This standard, which is part of the IEEE 802.3 family, was one of the earliest Ethernet technologies and was widely used in local area networks (LANs). While 10 Mbps was sufficient for many applications at the time of its introduction, modern networking demands have significantly increased, making this speed comparatively slow today. Networks with higher data rates such as 100Base-T (Fast Ethernet) at 100 Mbps and 1000Base-T (Gigabit Ethernet) at 1 Gbps and beyond are now more common, highlighting the limitations of the 10Base-T standard in terms of bandwidth and performance. The other options describe misconceptions about the limitations of the 10Base-T standard. For example, the technology does not restrict the number of devices to just 10; rather, it can support many devices within a local network, depending on the network's design and the use of switches. Additionally, 10Base-T utilizes twisted pair copper cabling rather than optical fibers, making it more accessible and cost-effective for many installations. Lastly, the maximum distance for 10Base-T is 100 meters