200-301 Question 11
Single answerA network engineer is tasked with designing a small office network. The network requires VLAN segmentation for separating departments and also needs routing capabilities to enable communication between these VLANs. Which type of device would be the most appropriate to fulfill this requirement?
- A
A Layer 2 switch
- B
A Layer 3 switch
- C
A hub
- D
A router
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
A Layer 3 switch is designed to handle both Layer 2 switching and Layer 3 routing tasks. It can segment the network into VLANs and also enable communication between them through inter-VLAN routing, making it the ideal choice for the requirements outlined in this scenario.
- A. Incorrect.
A Layer 2 switch operates only at Layer 2 of the OSI model and is primarily used for forwarding frames within the same VLAN. It cannot perform inter-VLAN routing.
- B. Correct.
A Layer 3 switch combines the functionality of a Layer 2 switch and a router. It can perform VLAN segmentation and inter-VLAN routing, making it the best choice for this scenario.
- C. Incorrect.
A hub is a basic device that operates at Layer 1 of the OSI model. It does not support VLANs or routing capabilities.
- D. Incorrect.
While a router can perform inter-VLAN routing, it is not ideal for VLAN segmentation and forwarding within VLANs. For a small office network, a Layer 3 switch is a more efficient and cost-effective solution.