CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

What is the procedure if a network is dropping packets due to ACLs?

1. Change the network topology

2. Increase the bandwidth

3. Revisit and revise ACL settings

4. Upgrade the hardware

The correct answer is: Revisit and revise ACL settings

To address packet drops caused by Access Control Lists (ACLs), revisiting and revising the ACL settings is essential. ACLs are used to control the flow of traffic within a network by permitting or denying certain types of packets based on specified criteria, such as source IP address, destination IP address, or protocol types. When packets are being dropped due to ACL constraints, it indicates that the current rules are either too restrictive or not properly configured for the intended traffic. By reviewing these settings, a network administrator can identify unnecessary restrictions or adjust the rules to ensure essential traffic is allowed through while still maintaining the desired security posture. This process may involve adding, modifying, or removing existing ACL entries to strike a balance between security and functionality, ultimately preventing disruptions in normal network operations. Other options, while they may seem viable, do not directly address the root cause of packet loss due to ACLs. Changing the network topology could potentially disrupt the overall architecture without resolving the specific ACL issues. Increasing bandwidth may help with traffic congestion but won’t solve problems stemming from misconfigured access permissions. Upgrading hardware might improve overall performance or capacity but would not fix improperly configured ACL settings that are impacting traffic flow. Thus, revising the ACL settings directly tackles the issue of packet