What should a network engineer investigate to help lower traffic collision rates on the network?

To lower traffic collision rates on the network, investigating duplex settings is essential because duplex mismatches are a common cause of increased collision rates. In a full duplex configuration, devices can send and receive data simultaneously, which effectively eliminates collisions. On the other hand, in a half-duplex configuration, which is often found in older network technologies, devices cannot transmit and receive data at the same time. If a device is set to half duplex while another device is set to full duplex, it may lead to frequent collisions as both devices attempt to communicate over the same channel.

By ensuring that devices on the network are properly configured to match their duplex settings, network engineers can significantly reduce the likelihood of collisions, leading to more efficient network performance. Understanding how these settings impact communication will help in diagnosing and resolving network traffic issues effectively.