4. A new employee has been issued a company laptop. The employee requests an accessory with a single power source that has wired network connectivity and supports a keyboard, mouse, speakers, and dual monitors. Which of the following accessories should the systems administrator deploy to best meet the new user's needs?
Answer: C
Docking station with DisplayPort is the best accessory for the new employee's needs.
A docking station with DisplayPort meets all the requirements by providing a single power source and enabling wired network connectivity, while also supporting multiple peripherals including a keyboard, mouse, speakers, and dual monitors.
A) KVM switch
A KVM switch allows users to control multiple computers from a single keyboard, mouse, and monitor setup; however, it does not provide network connectivity or power delivery. Therefore, it fails to meet the new employee's request for an accessory that supports a single power source and wired network connectivity.
B) USB-C hub with power delivery
While a USB-C hub with power delivery can connect multiple devices and provide power, it typically lacks dedicated ports for wired network connectivity and may not support dual monitor setups as effectively as a docking station. Thus, it does not fully satisfy all the requirements specified by the employee.
C) Docking station with DisplayPort
A docking station with DisplayPort is the ideal solution as it offers a single power source, wired network connectivity, and the capability to connect multiple peripherals including a keyboard, mouse, speakers, and dual monitors. This option directly addresses all the needs of the new employee.
D) KVM switch with audio
Similar to the standard KVM switch, a KVM switch with audio primarily facilitates control of multiple computers but does not provide wired network connectivity or the necessary power delivery. Consequently, it does not fulfill the comprehensive requirements of the employee's request.
Conclusion
The docking station with DisplayPort is the only option that effectively addresses the employee's needs for a single power source, wired network connectivity, and support for multiple peripherals. All other options either do not provide the necessary connectivity or fail to support the required peripherals, making them unsuitable for the new employee's setup.