TestOut LabSim A+ Certification Practice Exam

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What is the primary purpose of the subnet mask in an IP configuration?

To identify the MAC address of a device.
To determine the network and host portions of an IP address.
To control access to network resources.
To encrypt data packets during transmission.

The correct answer is: To determine the network and host portions of an IP address.

The primary purpose of the subnet mask in an IP configuration is to determine the network and host portions of an IP address. The subnet mask is used alongside the IP address to define which part of the address refers to the network that the device is on and which part identifies the specific host within that network. When a device wants to communicate with another device, the subnet mask helps it figure out whether the other device is on the same network or a different one. By applying the subnet mask to the IP address through a bitwise AND operation, the network portion can be extracted, allowing for efficient routing and management of IP addresses. Understanding how a subnet mask works is crucial for network configuration and troubleshooting, as it plays a significant role in determining how devices are grouped together and how data is transmitted across networks.