Watchguard Network Security Practice Test

Is a static route needed on Floor 1 for communication to a server on Floor 2?

1. Yes, always

2. No, if they are on the same subnet

3. Only if using VLANs

4. Only if devices are directly connected

The correct answer is: No, if they are on the same subnet

In networking, a static route is used to route packets from one subnet to another. When devices are on the same subnet, they can communicate directly without needing a route specified because they are part of the same broadcast domain. This is a fundamental aspect of IP networking, where devices assigned to the same logical network can send traffic directly to each other using their MAC addresses. If the server on Floor 2 is on the same subnet as the devices on Floor 1, they can communicate efficiently without any static routes. The network's infrastructure (like switches operating at Layer 2) handles the communication by broadcasting to the entire subnet, ensuring messages can be delivered to the appropriate device, in this case, the server. Therefore, the assertion that a static route is not needed when the devices are on the same subnet is correct as it highlights the fundamental operation of network communication within a single subnet.