Identifying Common Network Problems

Correct Answer: Network congestion

The most likely cause of slow network performance on a LAN during peak hours is Network congestion. This typically happens when too many devices are attempting to communicate on the network at the same time, which can lead to delayed transmission of data and reduced network speedAs for the other options: Too many network switches is not necessarily a problem unless they are misconfigured or the network topology is poorly designed. Having more switches can actually help in dividing the network into different segments, reducing overall trafficIncorrect Subnet mask could potentially cause problems, but it's unlikely to cause slow performance only during peak hours, it would cause persistent issues as it affects the network structureLastly, a Malfunctioning DHCP server could potentially lead to issues with obtaining IP addresses, but this wouldn't inherently slow down the network, it may prevent devices from connecting to the network.

Correct Answer: Incorrect printer configuration for the user

The best answer is 'Incorrect printer configuration for the user'. Since the printer shows no error messages and other users can print, the problem is likely localized to the user's computer settings or connection. The user might have an incorrect printer configuration such as a wrong IP address, wrong driver, or bad connection to the network keeping the user from connecting to the printer. 'Broken printer' is incorrect because other users can still print. 'Mismatched color profile' would result in incorrect colors but not in a total failure to print. 'Insufficient printer memory' is incorrect as this usually causes specific error messages on the printer and would likely affect other users as well.

Correct Answer: Add a load balancer.

In such a scenario where there is an unexpected increase in traffic causing slow load times and frequent crashes, adding a load balancer will be the most effective solution. A load balancer will evenly distribute the load among your servers and prevent any one server from getting overwhelmed, which will increase the capacity of your website to handle more traffic and reduce slow load times and frequent crashes. The remaining options are not as effective. Upgrading their internet plan would increase the bandwidth but may not solve the problem of uneven traffic causing a single server to be overwhelmed. Replacing network switches may not be necessary unless they are not functioning correctly or are unable to handle the increased traffic - but even with new switches, your servers still need to be able to handle the additional load. Increasing the DHCP lease time might reduce the load on the DHCP server but this may not resolve the slow load times and frequent crashes on the website.