At which layer of the TCP/IP model do devices such as switches operate, along with PPP and ARP?

At which layer of the TCP/IP model do devices such as switches operate, along with PPP and ARP?

• A. Data-Link
• B. Physical
• C. Network
• D. Transport

Answer: (A)

Switching frames between devices on the same local network relies on the Data-Link layer. That layer handles MAC addressing and framing, which is exactly what switches use to forward traffic. ARP fits here because it resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses on the local link, enabling those frames to reach the right hardware. PPP is also a link-layer protocol used to encapsulate data over point-to-point links. In contrast, the Network layer handles IP routing, the Transport layer handles end-to-end delivery, and the Physical layer covers the actual signaling and electrical/bit-level transmission. So the Data-Link layer is the correct choice.

Switching frames between devices on the same local network relies on the Data-Link layer. That layer handles MAC addressing and framing, which is exactly what switches use to forward traffic. ARP fits here because it resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses on the local link, enabling those frames to reach the right hardware. PPP is also a link-layer protocol used to encapsulate data over point-to-point links. In contrast, the Network layer handles IP routing, the Transport layer handles end-to-end delivery, and the Physical layer covers the actual signaling and electrical/bit-level transmission. So the Data-Link layer is the correct choice.