hardMultiple Choice
FC0-U71 Practice Question: Connect two separate local area networks (LANs)…
A company needs to connect two separate local area networks (LANs) in different buildings. Which device is required to route traffic between the networks?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse a switch's ability to segment collision domains with the router's ability to segment broadcast domains and route between different IP networks, leading them to incorrectly select 'Switch' for inter-network connectivity.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Router
A router is required to connect two separate LANs because it operates at Layer 3 (Network layer) of the OSI model and uses IP addresses to make forwarding decisions. Unlike switches or bridges, routers can examine the destination IP address, consult a routing table, and forward packets between different subnets or networks, even if they use different data link layer technologies.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Hub
Why it's wrong here
A hub operates at Layer 1, repeating every frame out of all ports without examining IP addresses, so it cannot route between separate LANs. It is tempting because hubs physically join segments into one collision domain, which would be the correct choice only for extending a single LAN cheaply, not for inter-network routing.
- ✓
Router
Why this is correct
A router operates at Layer 3, forwarding packets between distinct IP subnets using its routing table. This directly satisfies the requirement to connect two separate LANs in different buildings, since each LAN is its own broadcast domain and subnet. Switches and access points cannot route between separate networks.
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Switch
Why it's wrong here
A switch forwards frames within one broadcast domain using MAC addresses and cannot route between separate LANs or subnets. A switch would be correct for adding ports or segmenting collision domains inside a single building's network.
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Bridge
Why it's wrong here
A bridge forwards frames at Layer 2 using MAC addresses, so it cannot route IP traffic between distinct networks. It is tempting because bridges join two LAN segments into one logical network, which would be correct for extending a single subnet, not for routing between separate LANs.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This FC0-U71 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the FC0-U71 exam.