CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) Practice

Which of the following is NOT a function of ARP?

1. Mapping IP addresses to MAC addresses

2. Routing packets to their destination

3. Resolving addresses in the local network

4. Assisting in traffic management

The correct answer is: Routing packets to their destination

The function of ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) involves mapping IP addresses to MAC (Media Access Control) addresses and resolving addresses in a local network. It is a critical protocol for enabling devices on the same local area network (LAN) to communicate with each other using their physical hardware addresses. Routing packets to their destination is not a function of ARP. Rather, routing pertains to the processes executed by routers and routing protocols that determine the best path for data packets to travel across different networks towards their destination. ARP operates at a lower level, facilitating communication within a single network rather than managing inter-network traffic or routing. While ARP can play a role in assisting traffic management by efficiently handling the address resolution process to minimize congestion, this is more of a secondary effect rather than a specific function. Thus, it is essential to distinguish ARP's primary purposes, which center on address resolution within a local context, from functions such as routing that occur at higher layers of network communication.