350-401 Question 4
Select 3A network engineer is designing an enterprise network for a branch office using a three-tier hierarchical model. The design must ensure high availability, scalability, and ease of troubleshooting. What are the primary functions of the distribution layer in this architecture?
- A
Aggregating traffic from access layer switches and forwarding it to the core layer
- B
Providing direct connectivity to endpoints such as user devices and printers
- C
Implementing routing policies and filtering traffic between different access layer segments
- D
Serving as the backbone for high-speed packet forwarding across the network
- E
Enhancing network redundancy through features like link aggregation and load balancing
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: A, C, E
Explanation
In the three-tier hierarchical model, the distribution layer serves as a bridge between the access and core layers. It aggregates traffic from access layer switches, applies routing policies, and enhances network redundancy through mechanisms like link aggregation and load balancing. These functions ensure scalability, high availability, and ease of network management. Connectivity to endpoints is handled by the access layer, while high-speed backbone operations are the responsibility of the core layer.
- A. Correct.
Correct: Aggregating traffic from the access layer and forwarding it to the core layer is a key function of the distribution layer in the three-tier model.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect: Direct connectivity to endpoints is typically handled by the access layer, not the distribution layer.
- C. Correct.
Correct: The distribution layer implements routing policies and filters traffic between access layer segments, which is one of its core responsibilities.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect: Serving as the backbone for high-speed packet forwarding is a function of the core layer, not the distribution layer.
- E. Correct.
Correct: Enhancing network redundancy through link aggregation and load balancing is an important function of the distribution layer to ensure high availability.