Network Layer: 50 Conceptual Multiple-Choice

Questions

Introduction
These 50 multiple-choice questions are designed to deepen your understanding of the
network layer concepts from the Cisco Networking Academy Program’s “Introduction to
Networks v6.0, Chapter 6: Network Layer.” Each question includes four options, the
correct answer, and a detailed explanation in a table format to clarify the reasoning
behind the answer and why other options are incorrect.

Questions
1. What is the primary function of the network layer in the OSI model?
A) To ensure reliable data delivery with error correction
B) To provide logical addressing and packet routing
C) To manage physical connections between devices
D) To format data for application-layer protocols
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: To provide logical addressing and packet routing
Explanation The network layer (OSI Layer 3) enables end-to-end
communication through logical addressing (e.g., IP
addresses) and routing packets across networks.
Option A is incorrect because reliability is handled by
the transport layer (e.g., TCP). Option C relates to
the data link layer, and Option D pertains to higher
layers like the application layer.

2. Why does IPv4 rely on other layers for reliability?

A) It uses a complex header requiring additional processing
B) It is a connectionless, best-effort protocol
C) It lacks support for modern network media
D) It cannot encapsulate transport layer data

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 Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It is a connectionless, best-effort protocol
Explanation IPv4 is designed for low overhead, operating without
establishing connections (connectionless) and not
guaranteeing delivery (best-effort). Reliability, such as
retransmitting lost packets, is managed by the
transport layer (e.g., TCP). Option A is incorrect as
the IPv4 header is not inherently complex. Option C is
unrelated, as IPv4 is media-independent. Option D is
false, as IPv4 encapsulates transport layer data.

3. What happens when a router receives a packet for a network not in its routing table
and no default route exists?
A) The packet is forwarded to the next-hop address
B) The packet is sent to the local host
C) The packet is discarded
D) The router broadcasts the packet to all interfaces
Answer: C
Correct Answer C: The packet is discarded
Explanation A router uses its routing table to determine the
forwarding path. If the destination network is not
listed and no default route is configured, the router
cannot forward the packet and discards it. Option A is
incorrect without a known next-hop. Option B is
invalid, as routers don’t forward to local hosts. Option
D is incorrect, as broadcasting is not a router’s default
behavior.

4. Which IPv6 header field is equivalent to the IPv4 Time-to-Live (TTL) field?
A) Flow Label
B) Hop Limit
C) Traffic Class
D) Payload Length
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: Hop Limit
Explanation The IPv6 Hop Limit field replaces the IPv4 TTL field,
decrementing by 1 at each router. When it reaches
zero, the packet is discarded to prevent infinite
looping. Option A (Flow Label) ensures consistent
handling, Option C (Traffic Class) manages priority,
and Option D (Payload Length) indicates data size.

5. Why does IPv6 eliminate the need for Network Address Translation (NAT)?

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 A) It uses a simplified header with fewer fields
B) It supports a 128-bit address space
C) It requires connection-oriented communication
D) It mandates error correction at the network layer
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It supports a 128-bit address space
Explanation IPv6’s 128-bit address space provides enough unique
addresses to eliminate NAT, which IPv4 uses to share
limited addresses. Option A aids efficiency but doesn’t
address NAT. Option C is incorrect, as IPv6 is
connectionless. Option D is false, as error correction is
a transport layer function.

6. What is the purpose of the default gateway in a host’s routing table?

A) To forward packets to devices on the same local network
B) To provide a loopback address for testing
C) To route packets to remote networks
D) To manage physical layer connections
Answer: C
Correct Answer C: To route packets to remote networks
Explanation The default gateway is a router’s IP address used by a
host to send packets to remote networks. Option A is
incorrect, as local network communication doesn’t use
the gateway. Option B refers to the loopback
(127.0.0.1). Option D relates to the physical layer, not
the network layer.

7. Which command displays the IPv4 routing table on a Cisco IOS router?
A) show ip interface brief
B) show interfaces
C) show ip route
D) show version
Answer: C
Correct Answer C: show ip route
Explanation The ‘show ip route‘ command displays the IPv4
routing table, showing directly connected, remote, and
default routes. Option A shows interface status,
Option B displays interface statistics, and Option D
provides IOS and hardware details.

8. What type of memory in a Cisco router stores the startup configuration file?

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 A) RAM
B) ROM
C) NVRAM
D) Flash
Answer: C
Correct Answer C: NVRAM
Explanation NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) stores the startup
configuration file, persisting through power cycles.
Option A (RAM) holds the running config, Option B
(ROM) stores bootstrap and limited IOS, and Option
D (Flash) stores the full IOS.

9. What is the role of the ‘no shutdown‘ command when configuring a router interface?
A) It saves the configuration to NVRAM
B) It activates the interface
C) It assigns an IP address to the interface
D) It displays the interface status
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It activates the interface
Explanation The ‘no shutdown‘ command enables a router interface
to send and receive packets. Option A refers to ‘copy
running-config startup-config‘, Option C involves ‘ip
address‘, and Option D uses ‘show ip interface brief‘.

10. Why is a switch’s default gateway address necessary for remote management?
A) It enables the switch to forward packets between local hosts
B) It allows the switch to communicate with remote networks
C) It assigns IP addresses to connected devices
D) It secures the switch against unauthorized access
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It allows the switch to communicate with remote
networks
Explanation A switch’s default gateway enables remote management
(e.g., via SSH) by routing traffic to remote networks.
Option A is incorrect, as switches don’t forward host
packets. Option C relates to DHCP servers, and
Option D involves security settings, not the gateway.

11. What does the IPv4 Protocol field in the packet header indicate?
A) The priority of the packet
B) The next-level protocol

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 C) The packet’s lifetime
D) The source IP address
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: The next-level protocol
Explanation The Protocol field identifies the transport layer
protocol (e.g., TCP, UDP) carried in the packet.
Option A is the Differentiated Services field, Option C
is the TTL field, and Option D is the Source IPv4
Address field.

12. How does the IPv6 Flow Label field function?

A) It limits the packet’s hops
B) It ensures consistent handling by routers
C) It specifies the packet’s data length
D) It identifies the source address
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It ensures consistent handling by routers
Explanation The Flow Label field allows packets with the same
label to receive uniform handling by routers, aiding
QoS. Option A is the Hop Limit field, Option C is the
Payload Length, and Option D is the Source IPv6
Address.

13. What is a key limitation of IPv4 addressed by IPv6?

A) Lack of media independence
B) Limited address space
C) Complex packet header
D) Connection-oriented delivery
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: Limited address space
Explanation IPv4’s 32-bit address space ( 4 billion addresses) is
limited, causing depletion. IPv6’s 128-bit addresses
resolve this. Option A is incorrect, as IPv4 is
media-independent. Option C is mitigated but not
primary, and Option D is false, as IPv4 is
connectionless.

14. What does the ‘C’ in a Cisco router’s routing table indicate?
A) A remote network route
B) A directly connected network
C) A default route

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 D) A loopback interface
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: A directly connected network
Explanation The ‘C’ indicates a directly connected network,
configured with an IP address and active interface.
Option A is marked by other codes (e.g., ‘D’ for
EIGRP). Option C is marked by ‘S*’, and Option D is
marked by ‘L’.

15. Why is IP considered media-independent?

A) It guarantees packet delivery
B) It operates without relying on the physical medium
C) It manages flow control
D) It requires a connection before sending
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It operates without relying on the physical medium
Explanation IP functions independently of the data link layer’s
medium (e.g., copper, fiber). The data link layer
handles medium-specific transmission. Option A is
false, as IP is unreliable. Option C is a transport layer
function, and Option D is incorrect, as IP is
connectionless.

16. What is the purpose of the IPv4 Differentiated Services (DS) field?
A) To identify the source IP address
B) To determine packet priority
C) To specify the next-level protocol
D) To limit the packet’s lifetime
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: To determine packet priority
Explanation The DS field prioritizes packets for Quality of Service
(QoS). Option A is the Source IPv4 Address, Option C
is the Protocol field, and Option D is the TTL field.

17. What happens during the router’s POST phase?

A) The IOS is loaded into RAM
B) Hardware diagnostics are performed
C) The startup config is copied to RAM
D) The default gateway is configured

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 Answer: B
Correct Answer B: Hardware diagnostics are performed
Explanation The Power-on Self-Test (POST) checks hardware
components from ROM. Option A occurs in the IOS
loading phase, Option C in the configuration loading
phase, and Option D is a configuration task, not part
of boot-up.

18. Which memory type stores the Cisco IOS image?

A) RAM
B) ROM
C) NVRAM
D) Flash
Answer: D
Correct Answer D: Flash
Explanation Flash memory stores the Cisco IOS image, persisting
through power cycles. Option A (RAM) holds the
running IOS, Option B (ROM) stores bootstrap, and
Option C (NVRAM) stores the startup config.

19. What is the role of the loopback interface on a host?

A) To route packets to remote networks
B) To test network connectivity
C) To assign IP addresses to devices
D) To connect to the default gateway
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: To test network connectivity
Explanation The loopback interface (127.0.0.1) allows a host to ping
itself for testing. Option A involves the default
gateway, Option C is a DHCP function, and Option D
is unrelated to loopback.

20. How does a host determine if a destination is local or remote?

A) By checking the default gateway’s IP address
B) By comparing source and destination subnet masks
C) By analyzing the packet’s TTL field
D) By sending the packet to all interfaces
Answer: B

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 Correct Answer B: By comparing source and destination subnet masks
Explanation A host compares its IP address and subnet mask with
the destination’s to determine if they share the same
network. If not, the packet is sent to the default
gateway. Option A is incorrect, as the gateway is used
for remote destinations. Option C is a router function,
and Option D is not a host behavior.

21. What does the ‘D’ in a Cisco routing table indicate?

A) A directly connected network
B) An EIGRP-learned route
C) A default route
D) A local interface
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: An EIGRP-learned route
Explanation The ‘D’ indicates a route learned via EIGRP
(Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol).
Option A is marked by ‘C’, Option C by ‘S*’, and
Option D by ‘L’.

22. Why is the IPv6 header simpler than the IPv4 header?
A) It has fewer fields
B) It uses a smaller address space
C) It requires NAT
D) It is connection-oriented
Answer: A
Correct Answer A: It has fewer fields
Explanation The IPv6 header has fewer fields for efficient packet
handling. Option B is false, as IPv6 has a larger
address space. Option C is incorrect, as IPv6
eliminates NAT. Option D is false, as IPv6 is
connectionless.

23. What is the purpose of the ‘show ip interface brief‘ command?

A) To display the routing table
B) To show interface status and protocol
C) To list hardware diagnostics
D) To save the configuration
Answer: B

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 Correct Answer B: To show interface status and protocol
Explanation The ‘show ip interface brief‘ command provides a
summary of interface status (up/down) and protocol
state. Option A is ‘show ip route‘, Option C is
unrelated to a specific command, and Option D is
‘copy running-config startup-config‘.

24. What is a key advantage of IPv6’s hierarchical network architecture?

A) It reduces routing table size
B) It requires NAT for addressing
C) It limits address availability
D) It increases packet header complexity
Answer: A
Correct Answer A: It reduces routing table size
Explanation IPv6’s hierarchical addressing improves routing
efficiency, reducing table size. Option B is false, as
IPv6 eliminates NAT. Option C is incorrect, as IPv6
expands addresses. Option D is false, as the header is
simplified.

25. What happens if a router’s NVRAM fails?

A) The IOS cannot load
B) The running configuration is lost
C) The startup configuration is lost
D) The router cannot route packets
Answer: C
Correct Answer C: The startup configuration is lost
Explanation NVRAM stores the startup configuration. If it fails,
the router enters setup mode or uses a default config on
reboot. Option A relates to Flash, Option B to RAM,
and Option D depends on the running config in RAM.

26. What is the role of the router’s bootstrap program?

A) To configure IP addresses
B) To locate and load the IOS
C) To manage packet routing
D) To secure remote access
Answer: B

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 Correct Answer B: To locate and load the IOS
Explanation The bootstrap program, stored in ROM, locates the
Cisco IOS in Flash and loads it into RAM. Option A is
a configuration task, Option C is an IOS function, and
Option D involves security settings.

27. Why is SSH preferred over Telnet for router access?

A) It is faster
B) It is encrypted
C) It uses less memory
D) It requires no configuration
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It is encrypted
Explanation SSH encrypts CLI connections, ensuring security,
unlike Telnet. Option A is not guaranteed, Option C is
irrelevant, and Option D is false, as SSH requires
configuration.

28. What does the ‘L’ in a Cisco routing table indicate?

A) A local interface
B) A default route
C) A remote network
D) An EIGRP route
Answer: A
Correct Answer A: A local interface
Explanation The ‘L’ indicates the local interface’s IP address.
Option B is marked by ‘S*’, Option C by other codes
(e.g., ‘D’), and Option D by ‘D’.

29. What is the purpose of the router’s console port?

A) To connect to WAN interfaces
B) To provide out-of-band management
C) To forward packets to remote networks
D) To store the IOS image
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: To provide out-of-band management
Explanation The console port allows direct CLI access for
configuration, independent of network services. Option
A involves WAN interfaces, Option C is a routing
function, and Option D relates to Flash memory.

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30. How does a router learn remote routes?
A) Through manual configuration or dynamic routing protocols
B) By analyzing the TTL field
C) Via the default gateway
D) Through the loopback interface
Answer: A
Correct Answer A: Through manual configuration or dynamic routing
protocols
Explanation Remote routes are learned via static configuration or
protocols like EIGRP. Option B is unrelated, Option C
applies to hosts, and Option D is for testing.

31. What is the significance of the administrative distance in a routing table?

A) It determines the packet’s priority
B) It measures the route’s trustworthiness
C) It indicates the packet’s hop count
D) It specifies the interface speed
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It measures the route’s trustworthiness
Explanation Administrative distance ranks route sources (e.g.,
EIGRP, static) by trustworthiness, with lower values
preferred. Option A is the DS field, Option C is the
metric, and Option D is unrelated.

32. Why is the IPv6 Traffic Class field important?

A) It identifies the source address
B) It prioritizes packets for QoS
C) It limits the packet’s lifetime
D) It specifies the data payload type
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It prioritizes packets for QoS
Explanation The Traffic Class field, like IPv4’s DS field, prioritizes
packets for Quality of Service. Option A is the Source
Address, Option C is the Hop Limit, and Option D is
the Next Header.

33. What is the role of the ‘copy running-config startup-config‘ command?

A) To activate an interface
B) To save the current configuration
C) To display the routing table

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 D) To load the IOS into RAM
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: To save the current configuration
Explanation This command saves the running configuration in
RAM to NVRAM as the startup configuration. Option
A is ‘no shutdown‘, Option C is ‘show ip route‘, and
Option D is a boot-up process.

34. What is a key challenge of IPv4’s routing table expansion?

A) It increases packet header size
B) It slows down routers
C) It requires NAT
D) It limits media independence
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It slows down routers
Explanation Large routing tables from IPv4’s growth slow routers
due to increased lookup times. Option A is unrelated,
Option C is a separate issue, and Option D is false, as
IPv4 is media-independent.

35. What does the router do if a packet’s Hop Limit reaches zero?
A) Forwards it to the next hop
B) Sends it to the default gateway
C) Discards the packet
D) Broadcasts it to all interfaces
Answer: C
Correct Answer C: Discards the packet
Explanation When the Hop Limit (or TTL in IPv4) reaches zero,
the router discards the packet to prevent infinite loops.
Options A, B, and D are incorrect, as they violate this
rule.

36. What is the purpose of the Cisco router’s AUX port?

A) To connect to LAN devices
B) To provide remote management
C) To store the startup configuration
D) To forward packets to remote networks
Answer: B

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 Correct Answer B: To provide remote management
Explanation The AUX port supports remote management, typically
via a modem. Option A involves LAN interfaces,
Option C is NVRAM, and Option D is a routing
function.

37. Why does a host need a subnet mask?

A) To identify the next-hop router
B) To determine the network portion of an IP address
C) To limit the packet’s lifetime
D) To prioritize packets
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: To determine the network portion of an IP address
Explanation The subnet mask identifies the network portion of an
IP address, enabling local vs. remote decisions. Option
A is the default gateway, Option C is the TTL, and
Option D is the DS field.

38. What is the role of the Cisco IOS in a router?

A) To perform hardware diagnostics
B) To provide routing and switching functions
C) To store the startup configuration
D) To assign IP addresses
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: To provide routing and switching functions
Explanation The Cisco IOS executes routing and switching
operations. Option A is the POST, Option C is
NVRAM, and Option D is a configuration or DHCP
task.

39. What does the IPv6 Payload Length field indicate?

A) The number of hops allowed
B) The size of the data portion
C) The priority of the packet
D) The next-level protocol
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: The size of the data portion
Explanation The Payload Length field specifies the data portion’s
size in the IPv6 packet. Option A is the Hop Limit,
Option C is the Traffic Class, and Option D is the
Next Header.

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40. Why does a router not use a default gateway like a host?
A) It has no IP address
B) It uses its routing table for forwarding
C) It operates at the data link layer
D) It cannot forward packets
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It uses its routing table for forwarding
Explanation Routers use routing tables to forward packets, not a
default gateway like hosts. Option A is false, as routers
have IP addresses. Option C is incorrect, as routers are
Layer 3. Option D is false, as forwarding is their
primary function.

41. What is the purpose of the ‘show version‘ command?

A) To display interface statistics
B) To show IOS and hardware details
C) To list routing table entries
D) To activate an interface
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: To show IOS and hardware details
Explanation The ‘show version‘ command displays IOS version,
bootstrap, and hardware details. Option A is ‘show
interfaces‘, Option C is ‘show ip route‘, and Option D
is ‘no shutdown‘.

42. What is a characteristic of a connectionless protocol like IP?

A) It guarantees packet delivery
B) It sends packets without prior connection
C) It manages flow control
D) It requires error correction
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It sends packets without prior connection
Explanation IP, as a connectionless protocol, sends packets without
establishing a connection. Option A is false, as IP is
unreliable. Option C and D are transport layer
functions.

43. What is the role of the router’s CPU?

A) To store the IOS image
B) To execute IOS instructions

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 C) To manage physical connections
D) To assign subnet masks
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: To execute IOS instructions
Explanation The CPU executes IOS instructions for routing and
switching. Option A is Flash, Option C is the data link
layer, and Option D is a configuration task.

44. Why is IPv4 considered unreliable?

A) It cannot encapsulate data
B) It lacks packet delivery guarantees
C) It requires a connection
D) It depends on physical media
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It lacks packet delivery guarantees
Explanation IPv4’s best-effort delivery means it doesn’t guarantee
packet arrival or order. Option A is false, as IPv4
encapsulates data. Option C is incorrect, as it’s
connectionless. Option D is false, as it’s
media-independent.

45. What is the purpose of the router’s Flash memory?

A) To store the running configuration
B) To hold the IOS and system files
C) To execute hardware diagnostics
D) To manage packet routing
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: To hold the IOS and system files
Explanation Flash stores the IOS and other system files. Option A
is RAM, Option C is POST, and Option D is an IOS
function.

46. What does the IPv6 Next Header field specify?

A) The packet’s priority
B) The data payload type
C) The number of hops allowed
D) The destination address

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 Answer: B
Correct Answer B: The data payload type
Explanation The Next Header field identifies the payload type (e.g.,
TCP, UDP). Option A is the Traffic Class, Option C is
the Hop Limit, and Option D is the Destination
Address.

47. Why is autoconfiguration beneficial in IPv6?

A) It simplifies address assignment
B) It reduces packet size
C) It ensures reliable delivery
D) It requires NAT
Answer: A
Correct Answer A: It simplifies address assignment
Explanation IPv6 autoconfiguration allows devices to assign
addresses without manual setup or DHCP. Option B is
unrelated, Option C is a transport layer function, and
Option D is false, as IPv6 eliminates NAT.

48. What is the role of the ‘route print‘ command on a Windows host?
A) To configure the default gateway
B) To display the routing table
C) To assign an IP address
D) To test network connectivity
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: To display the routing table
Explanation The ‘route print‘ command shows the host’s routing
table, including IPv4 and IPv6 routes. Option A is a
configuration task, Option C is DHCP or manual, and
Option D is ‘ping‘.

49. What happens if a router’s running configuration is not saved?

A) The IOS is lost
B) Changes are lost on reboot
C) The routing table is cleared
D) The default gateway is reset
Answer: B

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 Correct Answer B: Changes are lost on reboot
Explanation The running configuration in RAM is lost on reboot
unless saved to NVRAM with ‘copy running-config
startup-config‘. Option A relates to Flash, Option C is
temporary, and Option D is unrelated.

50. Why is the router’s routing table critical for packet forwarding?
A) It assigns IP addresses
B) It determines the best path for packets
C) It manages physical connections
D) It ensures reliable delivery
Answer: B
Correct Answer B: It determines the best path for packets
Explanation The routing table provides paths for packet forwarding
based on destination networks. Option A is a DHCP
function, Option C is the data link layer, and Option
D is a transport layer function.

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