active vs passive hubs

crabeater

In the SE version of technotes, page 19 states that "An active hub...forwards it to all other ports."

Would not the question 47 answers C and D apply only to intelligent hubs, as you further describe on page 19, and not all hubs?

Or should I not be so picky about wording on the tests?

Thanks
C

Webmaster

crabeater wrote:

In the SE version of technotes, page 19 states that "An active hub...forwards it to all other ports."

Actually that is not what it says (although I agree I could have worded it better). The difference between active and passive is that active hubs amplify the signal. The difference between the two has nothing to do with to which port traffic is forwarded. It is always* forwarded to 'all other ports'.

Would not the question 47 answers C and D apply only to intelligent hubs, as you further describe on page 19, and not all hubs?

Intelligent (vs. dumb) hubs is not the same as active vs. passive. (As I explained in the TechNotes:) Intelligent hubs can be managed (and can be either active or passive.)

Or should I not be so picky about wording on the tests?

Indeed, you shouldn't, network+ is a basic CompTIA exam, although they might try to confuse you by using bad wording, in most cases you need to think as basic as possible.

Thanks
C

You're welcome

lazyart

Intelligent hub seems to be a bit of a misnomer. Hubs are nothing more than noisy broadcast beacons. You say something while connected to it and it tells everyone. I guess the only difference in active and passive is that an passive hub just says it, while and active hub YELLS IT ACROSS THE NETWORK (amplified signal).

A true "intelligent" hub would be a switch, don't you think? Eh, don't let my words confuse you. But any hub is just plain dumb.