If a host receives a frame with the destination MAC address FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF, what action does the host take?

If a host receives a frame with the destination MAC address FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF, what action does the host take?

• A. The host will process the frame.
• B. The host returns the frame to the switch.
• C. The host replies to the switch with its own IP address.
• D. The host forwards the frame to all other hosts.

Answer: (A)

Broadcast frames are sent to every device on the local network segment. When a host sees a frame addressed to the broadcast MAC address, it doesn’t ignore it; it accepts it and passes it up to its network stack for processing. This is how protocols like ARP work, where every host on the LAN must receive the frame and respond if appropriate. Forwarding or replying actions aren’t initiated by the host simply because it’s a broadcast; forwarding is handled by switches, and a host only processes the payload to determine if any higher-layer action is needed.

Broadcast frames are sent to every device on the local network segment. When a host sees a frame addressed to the broadcast MAC address, it doesn’t ignore it; it accepts it and passes it up to its network stack for processing. This is how protocols like ARP work, where every host on the LAN must receive the frame and respond if appropriate. Forwarding or replying actions aren’t initiated by the host simply because it’s a broadcast; forwarding is handled by switches, and a host only processes the payload to determine if any higher-layer action is needed.