Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) Practice Exam

Which device does not process addresses?

1. Hub

2. Switch

3. WiFi access point

4. Router

The correct answer is: Hub

The hub is the device that does not process addresses. Hubs operate at the physical layer (Layer 1) of the OSI model, where they simply act as a multiport repeater to connect multiple devices in a network. When data packets arrive at a hub, it broadcasts the packets to all connected devices without examining or processing the source or destination addresses. This lack of address processing means that any device connected to the hub will receive all traffic, leading to potential network congestion and security concerns. In contrast, other devices mentioned, such as switches and routers, do process addresses. Switches operate primarily at the data link layer (Layer 2) and use MAC addresses to forward frames to the correct destination. Routers function at the network layer (Layer 3) and utilize IP addresses to route packets between different networks. WiFi access points are also capable of distinguishing between devices based on their MAC addresses to manage wireless traffic effectively. This fundamental difference in how hubs handle data traffic underlines why they are considered basic networking devices compared to more advanced ones like switches and routers.