What is the primary function of a Layer 3 device?
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A. B. C. D.D.
A Layer 3 device, such as a router, is responsible for forwarding traffic between different networks, hence the correct answer is D.
In a network, devices are connected to each other forming a network topology. Networks can be divided into sub-networks called subnets. When a device on one subnet wants to communicate with a device on another subnet, a Layer 3 device, such as a router, is required to forward traffic between the two subnets.
Routers use logical addresses, such as IP addresses, to determine the best path for traffic to reach its destination. Layer 3 devices build and maintain a routing table which contains information about networks and the paths to reach them. By examining the destination IP address in the packet header, the router looks up the routing table to determine the best next hop for the packet.
Layer 3 devices can also perform other functions, such as filtering traffic based on source or destination IP address, or implementing network security policies. However, their primary function is to forward traffic between different networks.