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Home > Archive > CCNA > August 2000 > Switches or Hubs?
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| I recently took the CCNA v2 and failed. I'm preparing to retake it but there is one question I can't find the answer to....."What is the most widely used layer 2 device?"
switch or hub??
I'm not sure and I'm worried about getting the same question again!!
Thanks | |
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| jtmegel,
I may be wrong, but I believe a hub is a layer 1 device. It is basically a multi-port repeater and only strengthens bit signals and transmits them across all ports.
A switch, on the other hand, is a layer 2 device because it makes decisions based on the layer 2 address (i.e., it deals with frames.)
A router, of course, is a layer 3 device, because it makes decisions based on layer 3 addresses (i.e., it works with packets).
If you ask me which is the most widely used layer 2 device, I would eliminate the hub, because it is not a layer 2 device. I would also eliminate the router, because that is also not a layer 2 device.
Another layer 2 device that is widely used is a bridge. A switch is basically a multiport bridge, in the same way that a hub is basically a multiport repeater.
Skip
[This message has been edited by TheSkipster (edited 08-21-2000).] | |
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| As usual the Skipster is right on the money!
A hub is a layer one device and as he continues, bridges and switches are layer two.
Yankee |
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