A router uses the following routing table: A packet bearing a destination…

2006

A router uses the following routing table:

2006_63

A packet bearing a destination address 144.16.68.117 arrives at the router. On which interface will it be forwarded?

  1. A.

    eth0

  2. B.

    eth1

  3. C.

    eth2

  4. D.

    eth3

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Correct answer: C

Answer: eth2. The router forwards the packet to eth2 because it is the longest-prefix match.

  • 144.16.0.0/16 (mask 255.255.0.0): matches (covers 144.16.0.0–144.16.255.255).

  • 144.16.64.0/19 (mask 255.255.224.0): matches (covers 144.16.64.0–144.16.95.255), but is less specific than /24.

  • 144.16.68.0/24 (mask 255.255.255.0): matches (covers 144.16.68.0–144.16.68.255) and is the most specific matching entry.

  • 144.16.68.64/27 (mask 255.255.255.224): does not match because it covers 144.16.68.64–144.16.68.95; the destination .117 is outside this range.

Therefore, by applying the longest-prefix (most specific) rule among the matching routes, forward the packet to eth2.

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