Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

Which of the following correctly identifies the address that can send data to multiple recipients?

1. IPv6 Unicast address

2. IPv6 Anycast address

3. IPv6 Multicast address

4. IPv6 Global Unicast address

The correct answer is: IPv6 Multicast address

The IPv6 Multicast address is specifically designed to send data to multiple recipients simultaneously. In this addressing scheme, a single packet is transmitted to a multicast group, which comprises multiple devices that are subscribed to that particular address. This is particularly useful for applications such as video conferencing or streaming, where the same data needs to be delivered to several endpoints at once, thereby optimizing network resources and reducing bandwidth consumption. In contrast, an IPv6 Unicast address is intended for one-to-one communication where a packet is sent from a single source to a single destination. An IPv6 Anycast address also involves a single packet being sent, but it is directed towards the nearest member of a group sharing the same address, allowing routers to determine the most efficient route. The IPv6 Global Unicast address, similar to unicast, is intended for unique endpoints and routable over the internet, but again, only addresses one recipient at a time. Thus, the Multicast address stands out as the only option that inherently supports the transmission of data to multiple recipients in a single operation.