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Difficulty: MediumNetwork Hardware Devices

A network technician is configuring a newly expanded office space where two departments are assigned to different IP subnets (192.168.10.0/24 and 192.168.20.0/24). The technician connects workstations from both departments to a central unmanaged Layer 2 switch, but users report they cannot communicate across departments. Which network hardware device should be installed to enable communication between these subnets?

  1. RouterAnswer
  2. B
    Ethernet hub
  3. C
    DHCP server
  4. D
    Wireless access point

Answer

Router
A router operates at Layer 3 of the OSI model and reads logical network IP addresses to forward traffic between distinct IP subnets. Adding a router establishes inter-subnet routing so the two department subnets can communicate.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core networking requirement from the scenario.
Traffic must travel between two distinct IP subnets (192.168.10.0/24 and 192.168.20.0/24).
Crossing subnet boundaries requires Layer 3 packet forwarding based on logical IP network addresses.
2
Analyze the limitations of the current network device.
The unmanaged Layer 2 switch forwards frames based strictly on MAC addresses within a single broadcast domain.
Layer 2 switches cannot route traffic between separate IP subnets without a Layer 3 routing mechanism.
3
Select the appropriate network hardware device for inter-subnet communication.
Deploying a router provides the necessary default gateway functions to route packets between the two subnets.
Routers operate at the Network layer of the OSI model and use IP routing tables to direct traffic across network boundaries.

Key Concept

Layer 3 Routing and Subnet Boundaries
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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Topics

Network Hardware Devices

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