Chapter 11 Introduction and Network History

Which statement best describes the role of Layer 2 switching in a network?

• It segments collision domains to improve bandwidth sharing

• It assigns IP addresses to hosts across routed networks

• It encrypts traffic between remote sites over the internet

• It prioritizes application packets using Layer 7 policies

Before Layer 2 switches were common, which design was typical for enterprise networks?

• Collapsed backbone with routers and hubs in segments

• Fully meshed fabric with redundant core switches

• Leaf–spine architecture using overlay tunnels

• Software-defined access with edge microsegmentation

A company replaces hubs with switches but connects multiple physical links between switches without safeguards. Which technology specifically prevents Layer 2 loops in this situation?

• Link Aggregation Control to split broadcast domains

• Rapid Spanning Tree to balance routing metrics

• VLAN Trunking Protocol to share VLAN databases

• Spanning Tree Protocol to block redundant paths

What is the primary benefit of Layer 2 switching compared to using hubs?

• It increases signal strength over long distances

• It routes traffic using IP layer information

• It breaks up collision domains for each port

• It eliminates all broadcast domains automatically

Which description best explains hardware-based bridging in modern switches?

• Encrypting frames before moving them between ports

• Routing decisions made by the CPU at Layer 3

• Forwarding with software that analyzes IP payloads

• Forwarding using ASICs that inspect frame headers

Which statement best describes address learning on a Layer 2 switch?

• The switch preloads all MACs from connected routers

• The switch stores only broadcast MACs to reduce flooding

• The switch records destination MACs with outgoing port mappings

• The switch records source MACs with incoming port mappings

A frame arrives with an unknown destination MAC address. What will a Layer 2 switch do first?

• Flood the frame out all ports except the source

• Drop the frame to prevent a broadcast storm

• Forward only to ports with active hosts

• Send the frame to the default gateway only

After A and B have communicated once on a point-to-point switch connection, what happens to subsequent unicast frames from A to B?

• They are discarded unless ARP is repeated each time

• They are sent to the router for address resolution

• They are flooded to all ports to ensure delivery

• They are forwarded only on B’s port without flooding

A switch has an entry mapping MAC X to port 3, but X has moved to port 5. What action maintains an accurate MAC table?

• Aging out stale entries so new source updates occur

• Disabling flooding so frames stay on old port

• Forwarding unknown frames only to port 3

• Locking learned entries to their first seen ports

Which statement best describes the role of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)?

• STP forwards only multicast and drops unicast

• STP increases bandwidth by adding paths

• STP disables redundant links to prevent loops

• STP replaces MAC learning on all switches