Question: Investigate a Speed and Duplex Mismatch Error
Using a Windows workstation, follow these steps to create a speed and duplex mismatch error and examine the results:
1. Open the Network Connections window (for Windows 8.1, right-click Start and click Network Connections) and double-click the wired local area connection icon. In the status box, note the current speed of the connection (for example, 1.0 Gbps).
2. Open Device Manager (for Windows 8.1, right-click Start and click Device Manager) and then open the properties box of the wired network adapter. On the Advanced tab, if the NIC is configured correctly, you should see the Speed & Duplex set to Auto Negotiation. Change the link speed to a value other than the one you observed in Step 1. Change the duplex to half-duplex. Save your changes.
3. Note the new connection speed or error message reported in the status box you opened in Step 1.
4. Open your browser and attempt to surf the Web. If the speed and duplex are slower than the negotiated speed and duplex, the connection should work, though slower. If the speed and duplex are higher than the negotiated speed and duplex, the connection will not work.
5. Go back to Step 2 and return the network adapter properties to Auto Negotiation. Save your changes and close all windows.