200-301 Question 10
Single answerA network administrator is tasked with designing a network for a small office. The network requires both inter-VLAN routing and high-speed switching for devices within the same VLAN. Which device should the administrator choose to fulfill both requirements?
- A
Layer 2 switch
- B
Layer 3 switch
- C
Router
- D
Hub
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
A Layer 3 switch is the best choice for this scenario because it combines the capabilities of a Layer 2 switch and a router. It can perform high-speed switching within the same VLAN (Layer 2 functionality) and inter-VLAN routing (Layer 3 functionality), which meets both requirements of the network design.
- A. Incorrect.
A Layer 2 switch only operates at the data link layer and cannot perform inter-VLAN routing. It is limited to forwarding traffic within the same VLAN.
- B. Correct.
A Layer 3 switch operates at both Layer 2 and Layer 3 of the OSI model, allowing it to perform high-speed switching for devices within the same VLAN and inter-VLAN routing. This makes it suitable for the given requirements.
- C. Incorrect.
A router can perform inter-VLAN routing but is not optimized for high-speed switching within the same VLAN. This makes it less efficient for a network that needs both functions.
- D. Incorrect.
A hub is a basic Layer 1 device that does not perform any switching or routing. It simply broadcasts traffic to all connected devices and is not suitable for modern networks.