In a WLAN Layer 2 networking environment, which of the following methods can an AP use to discover an AC? (Multiple choice)

Question

Options

• AMulticast
• BUnicast
• Cto broadcast
• DAnycast

• A
  6% (3)
• B
  82% (42)
• D
  12% (6)

Explanation

In a WLAN Layer 2 environment, an AP uses unicast (B) when it already knows the AC's IP address - either statically configured or learned via DHCP Option 43 or DNS - sending a CAPWAP Discovery Request directly to that address. Broadcast (C) allows an AP with no pre-configured AC address to send a discovery request to all devices on the local subnet (255.255.255.255), which ACs on the same Layer 2 network will receive and respond to.

Multicast (A) is a distractor - while multicast exists as a concept, it is not a standard AP-to-AC discovery mechanism in this Layer 2 WLAN context; broadcast serves the same local-subnet discovery purpose more reliably. Anycast (D) is a routing/addressing concept used to route traffic to the nearest node in a group, but it is not a discovery method used between APs and ACs.

Memory tip: Think of it as "you either know where to go (Unicast) or you shout to the room (Broadcast)." These two cover the realistic scenarios - known address vs. unknown address on a local segment - making them the practical pair for AP discovery.

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