Computer Networking MCQ – Network Devices

Here’s a 50 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) set focusing on Network Devices, covering essential hardware like routers, switches, hubs, modems, firewalls, and more.


Table of Contents

Network Devices – MCQs

1. Which device connects multiple networks and routes data packets between them?

a) Hub
b) Switch
c) Router
d) Repeater

Answer: c) Router


2. What is the primary function of a switch?

a) To amplify signals
b) To connect multiple devices in a LAN and forward data based on MAC addresses
c) To convert digital signals to analog
d) To block unauthorized access

Answer: b) To connect multiple devices in a LAN and forward data based on MAC addresses


3. Which device operates at Layer 1 (Physical Layer) of the OSI model?

a) Switch
b) Router
c) Hub
d) Firewall

Answer: c) Hub

4. What is the main disadvantage of a hub?


a) High cost
b) It broadcasts data to all ports, causing collisions
c) It cannot connect to the internet
d) It operates only wirelessly

Answer: b) It broadcasts data to all ports, causing collisions


5. Which device is used to extend the range of a network by regenerating signals?

a) Router
b) Switch
c) Repeater
d) Modem

Answer: c) Repeater


6. What does a modem do?

a) Routes data between networks
b) Converts digital signals to analog and vice versa
c) Filters network traffic
d) Connects devices in a LAN

Answer: b) Converts digital signals to analog and vice versa


7. Which device is used to connect a LAN to the internet?

a) Switch
b) Hub
c) Router
d) Bridge

Answer: c) Router


8. What is the function of a firewall?

a) To assign IP addresses
b) To block unauthorized access while allowing authorized communications
c) To amplify Wi-Fi signals
d) To connect two LANs

Answer: b) To block unauthorized access while allowing authorized communications


9. Which device operates at Layer 2 (Data Link Layer) of the OSI model?

a) Router
b) Switch
c) Hub
d) Repeater

Answer: b) Switch


10. What is the purpose of a gateway in networking?

a) To connect two similar networks
b) To connect dissimilar networks (e.g., LAN to WAN)
c) To amplify signals
d) To assign MAC addresses

Answer: b) To connect dissimilar networks (e.g., LAN to WAN)


11. Which device is used to segment a network into multiple collision domains?

a) Hub
b) Switch
c) Repeater
d) Modem

Answer: b) Switch


12. What is a wireless access point (WAP)?

a) A device that connects wired and wireless networks
b) A type of router
c) A modem for Wi-Fi
d) A firewall for wireless networks

Answer: a) A device that connects wired and wireless networks


13. Which device is used to connect two LANs with the same protocol?

a) Router
b) Bridge
c) Gateway
d) Repeater

Answer: b) Bridge


14. What is the main difference between a router and a switch?

a) A switch routes data between networks, while a router connects devices in a LAN
b) A router routes data between networks, while a switch connects devices in a LAN
c) A switch operates at Layer 3, while a router operates at Layer 2
d) A router is wireless, while a switch is wired

Answer: b) A router routes data between networks, while a switch connects devices in a LAN


15. Which device is used to protect a network from cyber attacks?

a) Switch
b) Firewall
c) Hub
d) Repeater

Answer: b) Firewall


16. What is a proxy server?

a) A device that routes traffic between networks
b) An intermediary that forwards requests on behalf of clients
c) A type of modem
d) A wireless access point

Answer: b) An intermediary that forwards requests on behalf of clients


17. Which device is used to connect fiber optic cables to copper Ethernet cables?

a) Router
b) Media converter
c) Switch
d) Hub

Answer: b) Media converter


18. What is the function of a load balancer?

a) To distribute network traffic across multiple servers
b) To block malicious traffic
c) To convert IP addresses to MAC addresses
d) To extend Wi-Fi range

Answer: a) To distribute network traffic across multiple servers


19. Which device operates at Layer 3 (Network Layer) of the OSI model?

a) Switch
b) Hub
c) Router
d) Bridge

Answer: c) Router


20. What is a NIC (Network Interface Card)?

a) A device that connects a computer to a network
b) A type of router
c) A firewall component
d) A wireless repeater

Answer: a) A device that connects a computer to a network


21. Which device is used in a SAN (Storage Area Network)?

a) Switch
b) SAN switch (Fibre Channel switch)
c) Hub
d) Modem

Answer: b) SAN switch (Fibre Channel switch)


22. What is a PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch?

a) A switch that provides power to devices like IP cameras via Ethernet
b) A wireless switch
c) A router with built-in firewall
d) A modem with switching capabilities

Answer: a) A switch that provides power to devices like IP cameras via Ethernet


23. Which device is used to connect multiple networks and direct traffic based on IP addresses?

a) Switch
b) Router
c) Hub
d) Bridge

Answer: b) Router


24. What is the purpose of an IDS (Intrusion Detection System)?

a) To block attacks automatically
b) To monitor and alert on suspicious activity
c) To route traffic between VLANs
d) To amplify network signals

Answer: b) To monitor and alert on suspicious activity


25. Which device is used to create VLANs (Virtual LANs)?

a) Hub
b) Switch
c) Repeater
d) Modem

Answer: b) Switch


26. What is the difference between an IPS and an IDS?

a) IPS blocks attacks, while IDS only detects them
b) IDS blocks attacks, while IPS only detects them
c) IPS is a type of router
d) IDS is a type of firewall

Answer: a) IPS blocks attacks, while IDS only detects them


27. Which device is used to connect a computer to a DSL internet connection?

a) Router
b) DSL modem
c) Switch
d) Hub

Answer: b) DSL modem


28. What is a multilayer switch?

a) A switch that operates at Layers 2 and 3
b) A switch with multiple power inputs
c) A wireless switch
d) A switch with built-in firewall

Answer: a) A switch that operates at Layers 2 and 3


29. Which device is used to filter and forward traffic based on MAC addresses?

a) Router
b) Switch
c) Hub
d) Gateway

Answer: b) Switch


30. What is a CSU/DSU (Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit)?

a) A device that connects a LAN to a WAN line (e.g., T1/E1)
b) A type of firewall
c) A wireless access point
d) A network repeater

Answer: a) A device that connects a LAN to a WAN line (e.g., T1/E1)


31. Which device is used to connect two different network media types (e.g., Ethernet to Wi-Fi)?

a) Router
b) Bridge
c) Media converter
d) Hub

Answer: c) Media converter


32. What is the purpose of a VPN concentrator?

a) To manage multiple VPN connections
b) To block malware
c) To amplify Wi-Fi signals
d) To convert analog signals to digital

Answer: a) To manage multiple VPN connections


33. Which device is used to prioritize network traffic (QoS)?

a) Hub
b) Switch
c) Router
d) Repeater

Answer: c) Router


34. What is a wireless bridge?

a) A device that connects two wired networks wirelessly
b) A type of router
c) A firewall for Wi-Fi
d) A modem with bridging capabilities

Answer: a) A device that connects two wired networks wirelessly


35. Which device is used to connect multiple ISPs to a network?

a) Multihomed router
b) Switch
c) Hub
d) Repeater

Answer: a) Multihomed router


36. What is a Brouter?

a) A combination of a bridge and a router
b) A type of firewall
c) A wireless access point
d) A modem-router combo

Answer: a) A combination of a bridge and a router


37. Which device is used in a VoIP network to convert analog voice to digital?

a) VoIP gateway
b) Switch
c) Hub
d) Repeater

Answer: a) VoIP gateway


38. What is the purpose of a DNS server?

a) To resolve domain names to IP addresses
b) To route traffic between networks
c) To block cyber attacks
d) To amplify network signals

Answer: a) To resolve domain names to IP addresses


39. Which device is used to connect a coaxial cable to an Ethernet network?

a) Router
b) Media converter
c) Hub
d) MoCA adapter

Answer: d) MoCA adapter (Multimedia over Coax Alliance)


40. What is a network tap?

a) A device that monitors network traffic without disrupting it
b) A type of firewall
c) A wireless repeater
d) A modem

Answer: a) A device that monitors network traffic without disrupting it


41. Which device is used to connect a computer to a fiber optic network?

a) Ethernet switch
b) Fiber NIC
c) Hub
d) Repeater

Answer: b) Fiber NIC (Network Interface Card)


42. What is a smart NIC?

a) A NIC with built-in processing power for offloading tasks
b) A wireless router
c) A type of firewall
d) A modem with AI capabilities

Answer: a) A NIC with built-in processing power for offloading tasks


43. Which device is used to connect multiple network segments at Layer 2?

a) Router
b) Switch
c) Hub
d) Bridge

Answer: d) Bridge


44. What is the purpose of a DHCP server?

a) To assign IP addresses dynamically
b) To block malware
c) To route traffic between networks
d) To amplify signals

Answer: a) To assign IP addresses dynamically


45. Which device is used to connect a LAN to a leased line (e.g., T1)?

a) Router
b) CSU/DSU
c) Hub
d) Repeater

Answer: b) CSU/DSU


46. What is a network analyzer (sniffer)?

a) A device that captures and analyzes network traffic
b) A type of firewall
c) A wireless access point
d) A modem

Answer: a) A device that captures and analyzes network traffic


47. Which device is used to connect a computer to a Wi-Fi network?

a) Ethernet switch
b) Wireless NIC
c) Hub
d) Repeater

Answer: b) Wireless NIC


48. What is the purpose of an endpoint security device?

a) To protect individual devices (e.g., laptops) from threats
b) To route network traffic
c) To amplify signals
d) To connect to a WAN

Answer: a) To protect individual devices (e.g., laptops) from threats


49. Which device is used to connect multiple networks in a large enterprise?

a) Core router
b) Hub
c) Repeater
d) Modem

Answer: a) Core router


50. What is a SDN (Software-Defined Networking) controller?

a) A device that centrally manages network traffic via software
b) A type of firewall
c) A wireless access point
d) A modem

Answer: a) A device that centrally manages network traffic via software


Conclusion

These 50 MCQs cover essential Network Devices (routers, switches, firewalls, modems, etc.) and are useful for exams like CCNA, CompTIA Network+, and university courses.