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Difficulty: MediumNetwork Topologies and Types

An IT infrastructure team is upgrading a data center's storage and core network architecture by introducing a dedicated Storage Area Network (SAN) alongside a full-mesh topology for core switches. Which of the following statements correctly describe the technical characteristics and operational trade-offs of these implementations? (Select TWO.)

  1. A full-mesh topology delivers complete link redundancy and high fault tolerance by connecting every node to every other node, requiring n(n−1)2\frac{n(n-1)}{2} total physical links for nn nodes.Answer
  2. A SAN provides a dedicated, high-speed network environment optimized specifically for block-level storage access by servers.Answer
  3. C
    Isolating core switch ports into different VLANs allows hosts on separate VLANs to communicate across the physical mesh without a Layer 3 routing device.
  4. D
    A SAN operates primarily by providing file-level file system sharing using high-level Layer 7 protocols like HTTP and FTP.

Answer

A full-mesh topology provides complete redundancy using n(n−1)2\frac{n(n-1)}{2} physical links, and a Storage Area Network (SAN) provides dedicated block-level access to consolidated storage devices.
The statement regarding full-mesh topology accurately identifies its fault-tolerant nature and physical link calculation formula n(n−1)2\frac{n(n-1)}{2}. Additionally, the statement describing a Storage Area Network (SAN) correctly highlights its dedicated role in delivering block-level storage access to enterprise servers.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze full-mesh topology characteristics
Full-mesh topologies eliminate single points of failure by interconnecting every node directly to every other node using n(n−1)2\frac{n(n-1)}{2} physical links.
This mathematical formula calculates the total un-directed links required for complete mesh interconnection.
2
Evaluate Storage Area Network (SAN) architecture
A SAN is designed for high-throughput, low-latency block-level data access rather than file-level network sharing.
Block-level access enables operating systems to treat remote SAN volumes as locally attached physical drives.
3
Identify misconceptions in distractors
Inter-VLAN communication strictly requires Layer 3 routing, and file-level sharing describes NAS rather than SAN.
VLAN boundaries enforce Layer 2 isolation, while file sharing operates at higher network protocol layers above raw block access.

Key Concept

Full-Mesh Topology and Storage Area Network (SAN) Architecture
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Topics

Network Topologies and Types

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