Questions and Answers
Which of the following best describes how a switch functions?
How do switches and bridges learn where devices are located on a network?
They copy the source MAC address from the frame header and record the associated port number in the MAC address table.
An eight-port switch receives a frame on port number 1 addressed to an unknown device. What will the switch do?
Send the frame out ports two through eight.
Which of the following devices does not segment the network?
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Which of the following hardware devices regenerates a signal out all connected ports without examining the frame or packet contents? (Select two)
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At which OSI layer does a router operate to forward network messages?
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Your company purchases a new bridge that filters packets based on the MAC address of the destination computer. On which layer of the OSI model is this device functioning?
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At which of the following OSI layers does a router operate?
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Which of the following devices operate at the Data Link layer of the OSI model? (Select three)
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Which of the following devices operate at OSI model Layer 2? (Select two)
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A switch is associated with which OSI model layer?
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At which layer of the OSI model do hubs operate?
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Which of the following devices operates at the OSI model Layer 2?
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Which of the following devices operates at the OSI model Layer 1?
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Study Notes
Switch Functionality
- Switches connect multiple cable segments and forward frames to the appropriate segment.
- They have multiple ports and operate by sending packets only to the destination computer's port, unlike hubs, which broadcast to all ports.
Learning Device Locations
- Devices like switches and bridges learn device locations by copying the source MAC address from frame headers.
- They maintain a MAC address table that associates source MAC addresses with respective port numbers.
- Switches and bridges work at Layer 2 and do not use IP addresses for address learning.
Handling Unknown Destinations
- An eight-port switch that receives a frame addressed to an unknown device sends the frame out of all ports except the one it was received on.
- Once the switch learns the correct port for the destination device, it will only send frames to that specific port.
Network Segmentation
- Hubs do not segment networks; they connect devices in the same collision and broadcast domains.
- Switches create separate collision domains at each port, while routers and firewalls segment networks into different broadcast domains.
Signal Regeneration
- Hubs and repeaters regenerate and send received signals out through all connected ports without examining the contents of frames or packets.
- In contrast, switches and bridges make forwarding decisions based on the MAC address.
OSI Layer Functions
- Routers operate at the Network layer (Layer 3) and use logical network addresses for message forwarding.
- Bridges filter packets based on destination MAC addresses at the Data Link layer (Layer 2).
OSI Layer Operations
- Devices operating at the Data Link layer (Layer 2) include switches, bridges, and network interface cards (NICs), all of which use MAC addresses.
- Hubs and repeaters are classified as Layer 1 devices, simply regenerating signals.
MAC Address Utilization
- The MAC address is essential for devices operating at the Data Link layer to identify packets.
- Switches read MAC addresses for forwarding decisions, while routers rely on IP addresses at Layer 3.
Layer Associations
- A switch is primarily associated with the Data Link layer (Layer 2).
- Hubs operate at the Physical layer (Layer 1), regenerating signals without regard to upper-layer data.
Summary of Device Roles
- Switches: Data Link layer - use MAC addresses for forwarding frames.
- Hubs: Physical layer - regenerate electrical signals for all ports without examining content.
- Routers: Network layer - route packets based on IP addresses.
- Bridges: Data Link layer - filter based on MAC addresses, enhancing network efficiency.
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Description
Test your understanding of how switches operate in a network. This quiz focuses on their role in connecting devices and forwarding data efficiently. Ideal for networking enthusiasts and students alike.
