Baseline Establishment

Correct Answer: Performance, utilization, and availability metrics

During a network assessment, it's important to establish baseline data which are usually performance-related, and will include metrics related to how the network is currently performing. So the most accurate type of data to collect would be performance, utilization, and availability metrics. This gives an overall picture of where things sit and thus provides a basis for any further changes or upgrades. Server software updates and patches, while important, are not crucial in establishing a baseline for network performance. Additionally, the latest network security threats are more aligned with a security assessment, not a network performance baseline. Lastly, asset inventory data is also important but it doesn't tell you how well the network is performing, hence does not help in establishing a baseline.

Correct Answer: It allows for identifying deviations from normal performance

A network baseline is crucial to analyzing sudden network slowdowns precisely because it allows for identifying deviations from normal performance. This essentially refers to comparing the current network performance with the established standard or normal behavior. If there's a decrease in performance, it can signal an issue like a network slowdown. The other answers are incorrect as they do not directly relate to the question. Uptime statistics are essential for monitoring overall network reliability, but they do not necessarily help address sudden network slowdowns. Bandwidth estimation is vital for capacity planning, but not directly relevant to sudden network issues. Lastly, while ensuring routing protocols are functioning correctly is an important network operation, it does not specifically explain the importance of a network baseline in analyzing sudden network slowdowns.

Correct Answer: Throughput, latency, and error rates

When comparing different types of networks, such as Ethernet and Fiber, baseline data to consider includes throughput, latency, and error rates. These parameters help determine the overall performance of the networks being compared. Throughput measures the amount of data that can be transferred over the network in a given amount of time, latency is the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another on the network, and error rates indicate the reliability of the network. Security vulnerabilities and firmware versions of network devices, while important in network management, don’t assist in a direct comparison of network types. Power consumption differences can also be a factor but it is secondary as it does not directly relate to network performance.