Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $4.99 payment

Prepare for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam. Test your knowledge with our interactive quizzes featuring multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations. Equip yourself for success!

Practice this question and more.

What is the primary function of Inverse ARP?

To define the maximum transmission unit
To map a DLCI to an IP address
To establish a connection to a remote device
To monitor traffic flows

The correct answer is: To map a DLCI to an IP address

The primary function of Inverse ARP is to map a Data Link Connection Identifier (DLCI) to an IP address. This mechanism is particularly useful in Frame Relay networks, where devices need to learn the IP addresses of directly connected devices without manual configuration. When a device receives an LMI message that includes a DLCI, it can use Inverse ARP to automatically discover the IP address associated with that DLCI, facilitating communication in a dynamic way. This automatic mapping is essential for addressing and routing in networks that utilize Frame Relay, as it enables devices to maintain the correct IP addressing scheme without requiring static configurations. This dynamic discovery process enhances the configurability and agility of network setups, particularly in environments where devices may be frequently added or changed.