Question 1mediummatching
Full question →Match each Ethernet or switching term to its most accurate description.
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mediummatchingObjective-mapped
Match each Ethernet or switching term to its most accurate description.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common exam trap is confusing the roles of MAC addresses, frames, switches, and broadcast traffic. Candidates often mistake a MAC address as a device or frame rather than a Layer 2 identifier. Another trap is thinking broadcast traffic is limited to a single device or that switches forward broadcast frames selectively. Understanding that switches forward frames based on MAC addresses and that broadcast frames are sent to all devices in the broadcast domain is critical to avoid these mistakes.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Ethernet and switching fundamentals revolve around the concept of Layer 2 addressing and frame forwarding. A MAC address is a unique hardware identifier assigned to each network interface card (NIC). It operates at Layer 2 of the OSI model and is essential for local network communication because switches use MAC addresses to forward frames within the same broadcast domain. A frame is the Layer 2 encapsulation unit that carries data between devices on an Ethernet network, including source and destination MAC addresses, control information, and payload data. Switches operate by learning MAC addresses from incoming frames and building a MAC address table. This table maps MAC addresses to specific switch ports, enabling the switch to forward frames only to the intended recipient port rather than flooding all ports. This selective forwarding improves network efficiency and security. Broadcast traffic, however, is an exception; it is sent to all devices within the broadcast domain because the destination MAC address is a broadcast address (FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF). Broadcasts are used for essential network functions like ARP requests and DHCP discovery. A common confusion arises when differentiating between unicast, multicast, and broadcast traffic and the role of switches in forwarding these frames. Switches forward unicast frames based on MAC address tables but flood unknown unicast and broadcast frames to all ports except the source. Understanding this behavior is crucial for troubleshooting and designing VLANs, as broadcast domains are segmented by routers or layer 3 switches to limit broadcast traffic. Cisco switches implement these rules consistently, making mastery of these concepts vital for the CCNA exam and real-world networking.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- A MAC address uniquely identifies a network interface card at Layer 2 for local frame delivery within a broadcast domain.
- A frame is the Layer 2 data unit on Ethernet that encapsulates payload with source and destination MAC addresses and control information.
- A switch learns MAC addresses from incoming frames and builds a MAC address table to forward frames selectively to the correct port.
- Switches forward unicast frames based on MAC address tables but flood broadcast frames to all ports within the broadcast domain.
- Broadcast traffic uses a special MAC address and is sent to all devices in the broadcast domain to support essential network services.
- Switches do not forward broadcast frames outside their broadcast domain, which is typically segmented by routers or VLAN boundaries.
- Unknown unicast frames are flooded by switches because the destination MAC address is not in the MAC address table.
- Understanding the difference between MAC addresses, frames, switches, and broadcast traffic is essential for troubleshooting and designing switched networks.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
A MAC address uniquely identifies a network interface card at Layer 2 for local frame delivery within a broadcast domain.
What exam trap should I watch out for?
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword: A common exam trap is confusing the roles of MAC addresses, frames, switches, and broadcast traffic. Candidates often mistake a MAC address as a device or frame rather than a Layer 2 identifier. Another trap is thinking broadcast traffic is limited to a single device or that switches forward broadcast frames selectively. Understanding that switches forward frames based on MAC addresses and that broadcast frames are sent to all devices in the broadcast domain is critical to avoid these mistakes.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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