What should be your first step when troubleshooting a network connection that uses a cable modem?

Question

Options

• APing the proxy server.
• BPing the default gateway.
• CPing local devices using their DNS names.
• DPing local devices using their IP addresses.

• A
  9% (3)
• B
  3% (1)
• C
  6% (2)
• D
  81% (26)

Explanation

Pinging local devices by IP address (D) is the correct first step because it tests the most fundamental layer of connectivity - whether your local network interface is functioning and whether you can reach devices on the same subnet, without relying on any external services or name resolution. If local IP pings fail, you know the problem is at the physical or local network level, and there's no point testing anything beyond it.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A (Ping proxy server): The proxy is an advanced, application-layer service - you'd only test this after confirming basic IP connectivity and internet access are working.
• B (Ping default gateway): This is a valid second step (tests the path to your router/modem), but you should confirm local IP connectivity first, since a gateway ping failure won't tell you whether the problem is your NIC, the cable, or the gateway itself.
• C (Ping by DNS name): DNS resolution depends on IP connectivity already working - if DNS fails, you can't tell whether the underlying IP network is broken or just name resolution is broken.

Memory tip: Think of the troubleshooting model as "inside-out" - start at your own machine/local network (IP ping), then move outward to the gateway, then the internet, then DNS and application services. Option D is always the innermost ring.

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