What tool should a network technician use to test for a short in the network cable?

A multimeter is a versatile tool that can be used to measure voltage, current, and resistance in electrical circuits, making it useful for diagnosing issues in network cables, including shorts. When testing for a short in a network cable, a multimeter can check the continuity of the wires and identify if any wires are improperly connected or touching each other, which would indicate a short circuit.

While a packet sniffer is useful for monitoring and analyzing data packets on the network, it does not provide information about the physical integrity of the cable. A cable tester is specifically designed to test cables for various faults, including shorts, opens, and miswirings. A network analyzer provides data on network performance and issues but does not focus on the physical wiring of network cables. Therefore, while those tools have their specific uses, in the context of directly testing for shorts, a multimeter allows for precise measurement and assessment of the electrical characteristics of the cable.