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

Which device type uses routing protocols to exchange information?

1. Switches

2. Hubs

3. Routers

4. Servers

The correct answer is: Routers

Routing protocols are specifically designed for routers, enabling them to exchange information about the network's topology and share routing information with other routers. This exchange of information allows routers to determine the most efficient paths for data to travel across different networks. Routers utilize various routing protocols, such as RIP, OSPF, and BGP, to dynamically discover and maintain routes through the network. By understanding how to send data packets efficiently to their destination across different interconnected networks, routers play a critical role in the functionality of the Internet and other large networks. In contrast, switches primarily operate at the data link layer and handle traffic within the same local area network (LAN) by forwarding frames to specific devices based on their MAC addresses, without the use of routing protocols. Hubs are simple devices that transmit data packets to all connected devices without any intelligence in directing traffic, and servers typically provide services or resources to other devices but do not engage in routing protocols. Thus, routers are the only device type among the given options that utilizes routing protocols for the exchange of information.