Which characteristic describes cut-through switching?
a) Error-free fragments are forwarded, so switching occurs with lower latency.
b) Frames are forwarded without any error checking.
c) Only outgoing frames are checked for errors.
d) Buffering is used to support different Ethernet speeds.
Correct Answer: b
Cut-through switching is a method used in network switches to forward data frames as soon as they are received, without waiting for the entire frame to be received and checked for errors. This method offers lower latency, which is critical for real-time applications like voice and video conferencing.
Let’s examine each answer choice and why “b) Frames are forwarded without any error checking” is the correct choice, while the others are not.
b) Frames are forwarded without any error checking:
This statement accurately describes cut-through switching. In cut-through switching, as soon as the switch receives the destination MAC (Media Access Control) address in the Ethernet frame header, it begins forwarding the frame to its destination port without waiting for the entire frame to be received or checking for errors.
This means that cut-through switching operates with very low latency because it doesn’t introduce the delay associated with error checking or waiting for the entire frame to arrive. This approach is suitable for high-speed, low-latency networks where speed is prioritized over error checking.
It’s important to note that while cut-through switching is fast, it does not provide any error detection or correction, so frames with errors may still be forwarded.
Now, let’s discuss why the other options are not correct:
a) Error-free fragments are forwarded, so switching occurs with lower latency:
This statement is not accurate because it describes another switching technique called fragment-free switching, not cut-through switching. In fragment-free switching, the switch checks the first 64 bytes of a frame to determine if it contains any collision fragments.
If no collision fragments are detected, the switch forwards the frame. This approach reduces the likelihood of forwarding frames with major errors but still introduces some latency compared to cut-through switching.
c) Only outgoing frames are checked for errors:
This statement does not accurately describe cut-through switching. In cut-through switching, frames are forwarded as soon as the destination MAC address is recognized, without checking for errors in either incoming or outgoing frames. Cut-through switching prioritizes speed and low latency over error checking.
d) Buffering is used to support different Ethernet speeds:
This statement is more in line with another switching technique called store-and-forward switching, not cut-through switching. In store-and-forward switching, the switch buffers the entire incoming frame, checks it for errors and then forwards it.
This buffering allows switches to support different Ethernet speeds and provides error checking but introduces higher latency compared to cut-through switching.
In summary, cut-through switching is a method that forwards frames without error checking and with very low latency. It is suitable for high-speed networks where speed is prioritized over error detection.
The other options, such as fragment-free switching, store-and-forward switching, and checking only outgoing frames for errors, describe different switching techniques with their own characteristics and are not representative of cut-through switching.
MBA,BBA.
I am Smirti Bam, an enthusiastic edu blogger with a passion for sharing insights into the dynamic world of business and management through this website.
I hold a MBA degree from Presidential Business School, Kathmandu, and a BBA degree with a specialization in Finance from Apex College,
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