Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

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Study for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam with our comprehensive quiz featuring multiple-choice questions and detailed explanations. Prepare effectively and enhance your understanding of networking concepts!

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What is the purpose of the 'broadcast' keyword in the command 'frame-relay map ip 10.121.16.8 102 broadcast'?

To enable password protection for the PVC
To allow packets to be forwarded across the PVC
To indicate an error in routing
To restrict the mapping to unicast packets

The correct answer is: To allow packets to be forwarded across the PVC

The use of the 'broadcast' keyword in the command 'frame-relay map ip 10.121.16.8 102 broadcast' serves a specific purpose within Frame Relay configurations. It enables the forwarding of broadcast packets across the Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC). Normally, Frame Relay is a network type that operates in a point-to-point mode and does not natively forward broadcast messages. By including the 'broadcast' keyword, you are explicitly instructing the device to send broadcast traffic, such as Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests, across the PVC to the specified destination IP address. This capability is crucial in scenarios where devices on either end of the Frame Relay link need to communicate with each other using protocols that depend on broadcast traffic. Without this keyword, such multicast and broadcast communication would be dropped, potentially leading to connectivity issues. Conceptually, it's essential to understand that while a network may inherently support unicast routing, broadcasting requires specific configuration to ensure that essential network services work seamlessly across the PVC.