Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

Which statement is true about full-duplex Ethernet in comparison to half-duplex Ethernet?

1. Full-duplex Ethernet uses a single shared cable segment.

2. Full-duplex Ethernet can provide higher throughput than half-duplex Ethernet.

3. Full-duplex Ethernet requires less hardware than half-duplex Ethernet.

4. Full-duplex Ethernet uses a loopback circuit to detect collisions.

The correct answer is: Full-duplex Ethernet can provide higher throughput than half-duplex Ethernet.

The statement regarding full-duplex Ethernet providing higher throughput than half-duplex Ethernet is accurate. In a full-duplex mode, devices can send and receive data simultaneously over the same connection. This capability essentially doubles the potential data transmission capacity, allowing for greater efficiency and the ability to handle more data traffic at the same time. In contrast, half-duplex Ethernet only allows for one device to transmit data while the other must wait, which can lead to delays and reduced overall throughput, especially in environments with high traffic. The other statements do not accurately reflect the characteristics of full-duplex systems. For example, full-duplex Ethernet typically involves separate channels for sending and receiving data rather than relying on a single shared medium, like in half-duplex. Hardware complexity can also vary based on the specific technologies used, but full-duplex does not inherently require less hardware. Lastly, full-duplex Ethernet does not utilize a loopback circuit for collision detection because collisions cannot occur in a full-duplex system as both transmissions are managed independently.