CompTIA Network+ (N10-009)Network TroubleshootingMedium
A network administrator receives reports that several internal web applications are running extremely slowly. Users report that file transfers over the local network are fast, and external internet access is normal. Monitoring tools show high CPU utilization on the server hosting the web applications and high network utilization on the server's specific network interface. What is the MOST likely cause of the slowdown?
- AInsufficient bandwidth on the core network switch.
- BDNS resolution issues for internal services.
- CA network bottleneck at the web application server.
- DMisconfigured QoS policies on edge routers.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. A network bottleneck at the web application server.
The symptoms — slow web applications, but fast local file transfers and normal internet access — point to an issue specific to the web application server. High CPU and high network utilization on that server's NIC indicate that the server itself is overwhelmed, acting as a bottleneck.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. If the core switch had insufficient bandwidth, all internal traffic, including file transfers, would likely be slow.
- B. DNS issues would manifest as inability to reach services by name, not slow performance once connected. Also, external internet access is normal.
- D. Misconfigured QoS policies might prioritize some traffic over others, but wouldn't typically cause high CPU on a specific server or slow all web apps while other traffic is fast.
Network Bottleneck
A point in the network where the flow of data is restricted, causing delays and reduced performance.
- Can occur due to insufficient bandwidth, CPU, memory, or disk I/O.
- Symptoms include slow application response, high latency, and dropped packets.
- Identified by monitoring resource utilization (CPU, RAM, network, disk) on devices.
Memory trick: Slow flow means something's holding back.