Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What WAN concept describes a method allowing voice or data to be transmitted between two endpoints using a dedicated path?

1. Circuit switching

2. Packet switching

3. Frame switching

4. Message switching

The correct answer is: Circuit switching

The correct answer is circuit switching, which refers to a method of communication where a dedicated communication path or circuit is established between two endpoints for the duration of the transmission. This is especially significant for voice communication, which requires a consistent and continuous stream of data to maintain the quality of the call. Circuit switching allocates the entire bandwidth of the connection for the duration of the call. This ensures that the voice or data packets travel through the same route and experience minimal delays or interruptions. Packet switching, on the other hand, breaks data into packets and sends them independently across the network, which can lead to varying transmission times and paths but is more efficient for data transmission overall. Frame switching involves encapsulating data into frames for switching in a local area network (LAN) context, while message switching refers to storing a message until it can be transmitted over a suitable connection, which does not guarantee a real-time communication experience.