JN0-102 · Question #286
What is the purpose of a network mask?
The correct answer is C. It is used to identify the network to which an IP address belongs. A network mask, also known as a subnet mask, serves to differentiate between the network portion and the host portion of an IP address.
Question
What is the purpose of a network mask?
Options
- AIt is used to identify the maximum hop count of a subnetwork.
- BIt is used to identify an IP address as either private or public.
- CIt is used to identify the network to which an IP address belongs.
- DIt is used to identify the total number of bits present in an IP address.
How the community answered
(26 responses)- B8% (2)
- C88% (23)
- D4% (1)
Why each option
A network mask, also known as a subnet mask, serves to differentiate between the network portion and the host portion of an IP address.
The network mask does not identify the maximum hop count of a subnetwork; hop count is typically related to routing protocols and Time To Live (TTL) values.
The network mask is not used to classify an IP address as private or public; this classification is based on reserved IP address ranges defined in RFCs.
The network mask's fundamental purpose is to perform a bitwise AND operation with an IP address, revealing the network address and thereby identifying the specific network segment that the IP address belongs to.
An IP address (IPv4) always consists of 32 bits, and the network mask's function is not to identify the total number of bits in an IP address.
Concept tested: Purpose of a network mask in IP addressing
Source: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/ios-xml/ios/ipaddr_dns/configuration/xe-3s/iad-xe-3s-book/iad-ipv4-addr-cfg.html
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