CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) Practice

What is the benefit of using Link State Routing over Distance Vector Routing?

1. It's easier to implement

2. It reduces bandwidth usage

3. It provides faster convergence

4. It lowers the routing table size

The correct answer is: It provides faster convergence

The choice of faster convergence as a benefit of using Link State Routing over Distance Vector Routing is significant in the context of network protocols. Link State Routing protocols, such as OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), work by having each router maintain a complete map of the network topology, which allows them to independently calculate the best paths to each destination based on the most current information. This method enables routers to respond more rapidly to changes in the network, such as link failures or the addition of new routes. When a change occurs, only the routers directly affected send out updates, which contain the state of their links, rather than relying on the entire network to share their routing tables (as seen in Distance Vector Routing). Consequently, routers can adapt quickly, leading to reduced downtime and improved overall responsiveness in the network. As a result, Link State Routing typically exhibits faster convergence times compared to Distance Vector Routing. In contrast, the other options, while relevant to network routing, do not directly address the primary advantages of Link State Routing in terms of structural dependability and speed. Implementing Link State protocols can be more complex than their Distance Vector counterparts, which makes the first option less applicable. While it can optimize bandwidth usage under certain conditions, that is not universally