A host is connected to a Department network which is part of a University…

2004

A host is connected to a Department network which is part of a University network. The University network, in turn, is part of the Internet. The largest network in which the Ethernet address of the host is unique is:  

  1. A.

    the subnet to which the host belongs

  2. B.

    the Department network

  3. C.

    the University network

  4. D.

    the Internet

Attempted by 270 students.

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Correct answer: D

Answer: the Internet

Explanation:

  • Ethernet (MAC) addresses are intended to be globally unique. Manufacturers allocate an Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) plus device-specific bits to ensure this uniqueness.

  • Network hierarchy runs from subnet to department to university up to the Internet. Because MAC uniqueness is global, the largest network in which the address remains unique is the Internet.

  • Practical caveat: locally administered MAC addresses, virtualization, or deliberate spoofing can create duplicates, but these are exceptions to the intended global uniqueness.

Therefore, the correct answer is the Internet.

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