A SAN administrator is troubleshooting a connectivity issue between a new server and a FC switch. The link is running at 8Gbps and uses a 90 meter (295 feet) optical cable. Which of the following is t

Upgrading switch firmware is a general maintenance task and less likely to be the immediate cause of a new 8Gbps link failure due to distance unless a known bug exists, and it's not the first item to check for a physical layer issue.

At 8Gbps, OM-2 multimode fiber has a maximum reach of approximately 50 meters, while OM-3 supports up to 150 meters and OM-4 up to 190 meters. Since the cable length is 90 meters, OM-2 fiber would not be able to reliably carry an 8Gbps signal over that distance, making its verification the crucial first step.

Running a temporary cable is a valid troubleshooting step for a bad cable or patch panel, but it assumes the existing cable might be faulty, whereas the primary concern here is the type of cable given the speed and distance.

Replacing the server's HBA is a more drastic step and should only be considered after verifying simpler, more common physical layer issues like incorrect cable type.