What happens when two modern switches are connected using a straight-through cable?

When two modern switches are connected using a straight-through cable, they will indeed work at the fastest speed supported by both switches. This is due to the fact that modern switches are designed to automatically negotiate the best connection speed and duplex settings. This process is known as auto-negotiation, which allows the switches to communicate and determine the optimal speed based on their capabilities.

In practical terms, as long as both switches support similar speeds, such as 100 Mbps or 1 Gbps, they will connect at that maximum speed without any intervention needed by the network administrator. This functionality also applies to both half-duplex and full-duplex modes, as the switches can negotiate these settings as well.

The use of a straight-through cable for this connection is acceptable for modern devices that support auto MDI/MDIX, which eliminates the need for manual configuration or the use of crossover cables that were traditionally required for connecting similar devices. Thus, the scenario presented confirms that the correct response reflects the contemporary capabilities of networking hardware.