HP Aruba Certified Network Technician Exam (ACNT) HPE3-U01 Exam Dumps: Updated Questions & Answers (October 2025)

 Switches and routers are both networking devices that operate at different layers of the OSI model and perform different functions. The key differences between L2 switches and routers are:

Switches operate at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model, while routers operate at the network layer (Layer 3). This means that switches forward frames based on the MAC addresses of the source and destination devices, while routers route packets based on the IP addresses of the source and destination networks.

Switches build a MAC table that maps MAC addresses to switch ports, while routers build a routing table that maps IP addresses to next-hop interfaces. The MAC table is used by switches to determine which port to send a frame to, while the routing table is used by routers to determine which interface to send a packet to.

Switches offer a considerably higher port density than routers, meaning that they can connect more devices to the network. Switches typically have dozens or hundreds of Ethernet ports, while routers usually have a few Ethernet ports and other types of ports such as ADSL, cable, fiber, dial-up, etc. Switches are used to create LAN segments, while routers are used to connect different networks or subnets.

Switches are faster than routers because they do not take up time looking at the network layer header information. Switches can forward frames at wire speed, while routers need to process packets at the network layer and perform additional functions such as NAT, firewall, QoS, etc.

References: Switch (L2/L3) Vs Router: Comparison and Differences in TCP/IP Networks, Key Differences Between Routers and Different Types of Switches, Layer 2 Switch - How it operates, when to use it - Network Encyclopedia, Layer 2 switching - Study-CCNA, Differences Between Layer 2 and Layer 3 Switches｜Which one do you need？

 A switch is a device that operates at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model. It is responsible for forwarding frames based on the MAC addresses of the source and destination devices. A switch can also perform media access control, VLAN tagging, QoS, and other Layer 2 functions. A router, on the other hand, operates at the network layer (Layer 3) and routes packets based on their IP addresses. A transceiver is a device that converts electrical signals to optical signals and vice versa, and operates at the physical layer (Layer 1). A UTP cable is a type of twisted pair cable that is also used at the physical layer to transmit data. References: Data link layer - Wikipedia, Data Link Layer | Layer 2 | The OSI-Model, What is Layer 2? - Definition from Techopedia, An Overview of Layer 2 Ethernet – What is it and why does it matter?

To convert a binary number to a decimal number, we need to follow these steps:

Write down the binary number and assign a power of 2 to each digit, starting from the rightmost with 2^0.

Convert each binary digit to its decimal equivalent by multiplying it with its power of 2.

Add all the decimal values to get the decimal equivalent of the binary number.

Let’s apply these steps to the binary number 10001010:

10001010 = 0 × 2^0 + 1 × 2^1 + 0 × 2^2 + 1 × 2^3 + 0 × 2^4 + 0 × 2^5 + 0 × 2^6 + 1 × 2^7

10001010 = 0 + 2 + 0 + 8 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 128

10001010 = 138 in decimal

Therefore, the decimal equivalent of the binary number 10001010 is 138 (option A).

References: The answer can be verified by using the following resources:

Convert 10001010 from binary to decimal - Calculator Online

How to Convert decimal number 10001010 in binary? - CoolConversion

10001010 to decimal - Calculatio

Binary Code | Binary: 10001010 | Decimal: 138 | Bits: 8

A BSSID is a 48-bit label that identifies a basic service set (BSS) within a wireless network. A BSS is a subgroup of devices that share physical-layer medium access characteristics, such as radio frequency, modulation scheme, and security settings. A BSSID is usually the MAC address of the access point (AP) that creates the BSS, or a randomly generated value in an ad hoc network. A BSSID is different from an SSID, which is the name of the wireless network that users see and connect to. An SSID can have multiple BSSIDs associated with it, depending on the number and location of the APs. A BSSID is used to differentiate between different BSSs and to facilitate roaming and load balancing among them. References: https://internetspeedtest.world/wiki/bssid

https://www.minthaik.com/bssid-basic-service-set-identifier/

Broadcast communication is the distribution of audio or video content to a dispersed audience via any electronic mass communications medium, using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), in a one-to-many model1. A broadcast message is a message that is sent to all endpoints on the network, regardless of their address or identity2. An example of a broadcast message is an ARP request, which is used to find the MAC address of a device that has a specific IP address3. An ARP request is sent to the broadcast address of the network, which is usually the last address in the subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.255 for a /24 network). All devices on the network receive the ARP request and check if their IP address matches the one in the request. If so, they reply with their MAC address to the sender of the ARP request. If not, they ignore the request4. Therefore, an ARP request is an example of broadcast communication, while the other options are not. A DHCP offer is a message that is sent by a DHCP server to a specific client that requested an IP address5. An ICMP echo is a message that is sent by a device to test the connectivity and latency to another device. An HTTP Get is a message that is sent by a web browser to request a web page from a web server. These messages are not broadcast, but rather unicast, meaning they are sent to a single destination. References: 1: Broadcasting - Wikipedia 2: Broadcast communication network - Wikipedia 3: [Address Resolution Protocol - Wikipedia] 4: [How ARP Works - Cisco] 5: [DHCP - Wikipedia] : [Ping (networking utility) - Wikipedia] : [Hypertext Transfer Protocol - Wikipedia] : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Address_Resolution_Protocol : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ip/dynamic-address-allocation- resolution/13718-5.html : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_Host_Configuration_Protocol : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ping_(networking_utility) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertext_Transfer_Protocol

The TCP/IP model is a hierarchical protocol for network communication. It consists of four layers: the application layer, the transport layer, the internet layer, and the network interface layer. Each layer has specific functions and protocols that enable data transmission over the internet123

The TCP/IP model does not specify how to compress, fragment, encrypt, or analyze data. These are functions that may be performed by some protocols at different layers, but they are not part of the TCP/IP model itself. Therefore, option B is incorrect.

The TCP/IP model does not depend on the underlying physical network or data link technology. It can work on any network that supports IP addressing and routing, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, ATM, etc. Therefore, options A and E are incorrect.

The TCP/IP model specifies how to assemble, address, transmit, route, and disassemble a data packet. This is the core function of the internet layer, which uses the Internet Protocol (IP) to perform these tasks. IP is responsible for delivering packets from the source to the destination, based on the IP addresses of the hosts. Therefore, option C is correct.

The TCP/IP model is a set of communication protocols used on IP-based networks only. This means that any network that supports the internet layer of the TCP/IP model can use the TCP/IP protocols. IP-based networks are the most common and widely used networks in the world, as they enable the interconnection of different networks and devices across the internet. Therefore, option D is correct. References: https://www.guru99.com/tcp-ip-model.html

https://www.javatpoint.com/computer-network-tcp-ip-model

 The TCP three-way handshake is a process that is used in a TCP/IP network to create a connection between a client and a server. It involves the exchange of three packets: SYN, SYN-ACK, and ACK. The goal of the TCP three-way handshake is to establish a reliable, flow-controlled connection between the two endpoints. This means that the connection is able to ensure that the data is transmitted without errors, losses, or duplications, and that the data is sent at a rate that both sides can handle.

The TCP three-way handshake works as follows:

The client initiates the connection by sending a SYN packet to the server. The SYN packet contains a random sequence number that indicates the starting point of the data that the client will send.

The server responds to the client by sending a SYN-ACK packet. The SYN-ACK packet contains the server’s own sequence number and an acknowledgment number that is equal to the client’s sequence number plus one. This indicates that the server has received the client’s SYN packet and is ready to receive data from the client.

The client completes the handshake by sending an ACK packet to the server. The ACK packet contains an acknowledgment number that is equal to the server’s sequence number plus one. This indicates that the client has received the server’s SYN-ACK packet and is ready to send data to the server.

After the TCP three-way handshake is completed, the connection is established and the data transfer can begin.

References: The answer can be verified by using the following resources:

TCP 3-Way Handshake Process - GeeksforGeeks

TCP 3-Way Handshake (SYN, SYN-ACK,ACK) - Guru99

Akamai Blog | What is a TCP Three-Way Handshake?

What is a Three-Way Handshake? - Definition from Techopedia

What is TCP 3-Way Handshake, Benefits, and Drawbacks? - Networking Signal

 The dual-band IEEE WLAN standard that provides up to 4.8 Gbps of theoretical data rate is 802.11 be, also known as Wi-Fi 7. This standard is an amendment to the IEEE 802.11-2020 standard that aims to improve the performance, efficiency, and reliability of WLANs operating in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. Some of the key features of 802.11 be include:

Enhanced multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) that supports up to 16 spatial streams and 37 users per channel

Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) that allows multiple users to share the same channel with different subcarrier allocations

320 MHz channel bandwidth that enables higher data rates and spectral efficiency

4096 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) that increases the number of bits per symbol

Multi-link operation that allows a device to connect to multiple access points (APs) simultaneously

Enhanced power saving mechanisms that reduce the energy consumption and extend the battery life of devices

The other options are incorrect because they do not provide the same level of data rate as 802.11 be. 802.11 ac, or Wi-Fi 5, supports up to 1.73 Gbps of data rate in the 5 GHz band with 160 MHz channel bandwidth and 256 QAM. 802.11 ax, or Wi-Fi 6, supports up to 9.6 Gbps of data rate in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands with 160 MHz channel bandwidth, 1024 QAM, and OFDMA, but it is not a dual-band standard as it also supports the 6 GHz band. 802.11 n, or Wi-Fi 4, supports up to 600 Mbps of data rate in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands with 40 MHz channel bandwidth and 64 QAM. 802.1 lax and 802.1 In are not valid IEEE WLAN standards. References: IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput: The Next Generation of Wi-Fi Technology Beyond 802.11ax, Wi-Fi Timeline, IEEE 802.11-2020

Local-based management refers to managing a network device directly from the device itself, using tools such as console port, web interface, or command-line interface. Server-based management refers to managing a network device remotely from a centralized server, using tools such as Windows Admin Center, System Center, or Azure Arc123. The differences between these two types of management are:

Local-based management can use the device’s console port, which is a physical connection that allows access to the device even when the network is down or the device is not configured. Server-based management cannot use the console port, as it relies on network connectivity and protocols4.

Server-based management can monitor multiple devices at once, using a single dashboard or interface that shows the status, performance, and configuration of all the devices in the network. Local-based management can only monitor one device at a time, using the device’s own tools123.

References:

1: Cloud vs Server: Learn the Key Differences and Benefits - Parallels 2: Windows Server management overview | Microsoft Learn 4: 5 Benefits of Server-Based Local Access Networks for Small … - Versatech 3: What is Windows Admin Center | Microsoft Learn

The management plane is the logical path of all traffic related to the management of the device. Examples of protocols processed in the management plane are Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Telnet, HTTP, Secure HTTP (HTTPS), and SSH. These management protocols are used for monitoring and for command-line interface (CLI) access12. Therefore, HTTPS and SSH are protocols that operate on the management plane, while the other options are not. TCP is a transport layer protocol that provides reliable data delivery for various applications, but it is not specific to the management plane3. ARP is a network layer protocol that resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses, but it is not used for device management4. STP is a data link layer protocol that prevents loops in switched networks, but it is not related to the management plane5. References: 1: Management Plane Protection - Cisco 2: Planes of Operation > IP Routing on Cisco IOS, IOS XE, and IOS XR: How … 3: [Transmission Control Protocol - Wikipedia] 4: [Address Resolution Protocol - Wikipedia] 5: [Spanning Tree Protocol - Wikipedia] : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmission_Control_Protocol : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Address_Resolution_Protocol : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanning_Tree_Protocol