Referring to the exhibit, what are two accurate descriptions of this topology? (Choose two.)

Question

Exhibit

Options

• A3-stage IP Clos
• B5-staqe IP Clos
• C5-tier architecture
• D3-tier architecture

• A
  78% (32)
• B
  12% (5)
• C
  7% (3)
• D
  2% (1)

Explanation

Option A is correct because a standard leaf-spine topology - the most common modern data center design - passes traffic through exactly three switching stages: ingress leaf → spine → egress leaf, which is the definition of a 3-stage IP Clos network. Option B (5-stage IP Clos) is wrong because that would require an additional super-spine or aggregation layer beyond what a typical leaf-spine diagram shows. Options C and D are wrong because "tier" and "stage" are distinct concepts: a leaf-spine fabric is physically a 2-tier architecture (leaf tier + spine tier), not 3- or 5-tier - the term "3-tier" refers to the older core-distribution-access hierarchy, not Clos topologies.

Memory tip: Think stages = hops through switches. Leaf → Spine → Leaf = 3 hops = 3 stages. Don't confuse "stages" (traffic path) with "tiers" (physical layers) - a 3-stage Clos is a 2-tier physical design.

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