CompTIA Network+ Network+ OSI Model and Data Encapsulation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which OSI layer is responsible for flow control and error recovery using mechanisms like windowing and acknowledgments?
- Network layer
- Data Link layer
- Session layer
- Transport layer (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Transport layer
The Transport layer (Layer 4) provides flow control through windowing and ensures reliable delivery via acknowledgments and retransmission.
Question 2: A frame is received with a bad FCS value. At which OSI layer is this error detected?
- Physical layer
- Network layer
- Data Link layer (Correct answer)
- Transport layer
Correct answer: Data Link layer
The Frame Check Sequence (FCS) is a Data Link layer field used to detect transmission errors in received frames.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the role of the Physical layer in the OSI model?
- Routes packets between networks
- Converts data to electrical, optical, or radio signals (Correct answer)
- Assigns logical IP addresses
- Establishes end-to-end sessions
Correct answer: Converts data to electrical, optical, or radio signals
The Physical layer (Layer 1) defines the transmission of raw bits over a physical medium as electrical, optical, or wireless signals.
Question 4: An application developer needs to ensure data is formatted consistently for exchange between different systems. Which OSI layer addresses this concern?
- Application layer
- Transport layer
- Session layer
- Presentation layer (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Presentation layer
The Presentation layer (Layer 6) handles data syntax and semantics, ensuring data is in a common format regardless of the source system.
Question 5: What does a switch primarily use to make forwarding decisions at OSI Layer 2?
- IP addresses
- Port numbers
- MAC addresses (Correct answer)
- VLAN IDs only
Correct answer: MAC addresses
Switches operate at the Data Link layer and use MAC address tables to forward frames to the correct port.
Question 6: Which protocol data unit (PDU) is associated with the Data Link layer?
- Segment
- Packet
- Frame (Correct answer)
- Bit
Correct answer: Frame
The Data Link layer encapsulates packets into frames, adding source and destination MAC addresses along with error-checking fields.
Question 7: A router receives a packet destined for a remote network. At which OSI layer does the router make its forwarding decision?
- Layer 1
- Layer 2
- Layer 3 (Correct answer)
- Layer 4
Correct answer: Layer 3
Routers operate at Layer 3 (Network layer), using IP addresses and routing tables to determine the best path for packet forwarding.
Which OSI layer is responsible for flow control and error recovery using mechanisms like windowing and acknowledgments?