Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What happens to a switch when it enters fail-open mode?

1. It routes packets intelligently

2. It starts acting as a hub

3. It blocks network traffic

4. It denies all new connections

The correct answer is: It starts acting as a hub

When a switch enters fail-open mode, it begins to function similarly to a hub. In this state, the device stops performing the intelligent packet switching typically associated with switches and instead broadcasts incoming packets to all ports. This behavior mimics that of a hub, which does not have the capability to filter or intelligently route packets based on their destination MAC addresses. The fail-open mode is a safety feature designed to ensure that network connectivity is maintained, albeit in a less efficient manner. While this mode allows for continued communication between devices on the network, it sacrifices the benefits of a switching infrastructure, such as bandwidth management and reduced collision domains—characteristics that are essential for optimizing network performance. Understanding this mode is crucial for network administrators, as it highlights the importance of redundant systems and failover strategies to maintain network performance and security. In contrast, the other options describe behaviors not associated with a switch in fail-open mode, which highlight how they operate under normal and malfunctioning conditions.