Which switch port is configured to receive a copy of every packet for monitoring and analysis?

Which switch port is configured to receive a copy of every packet for monitoring and analysis?

• A. Span port
• B. Access port
• C. Trunk port
• D. Management port

Answer: (A)

Port mirroring uses a destination port called a SPAN port. It is configured to receive copies of frames from one or more source ports or VLANs, sending those copies to a connected monitoring device for analysis without impacting the original traffic flow. That setup is precisely what’s meant by receiving a copy of every packet for monitoring. Why this fits best: the SPAN port is specifically designed to duplicate traffic for inspection, capture, or analysis, which is the goal of monitoring. In contrast, an access port serves end devices in a single VLAN and does not duplicate traffic; a trunk port carries multiple VLANs between switches and isn’t meant to copy all traffic to a analyzer; a management port is used for out-of-band switch management, not for traffic monitoring.

Port mirroring uses a destination port called a SPAN port. It is configured to receive copies of frames from one or more source ports or VLANs, sending those copies to a connected monitoring device for analysis without impacting the original traffic flow. That setup is precisely what’s meant by receiving a copy of every packet for monitoring.

Why this fits best: the SPAN port is specifically designed to duplicate traffic for inspection, capture, or analysis, which is the goal of monitoring. In contrast, an access port serves end devices in a single VLAN and does not duplicate traffic; a trunk port carries multiple VLANs between switches and isn’t meant to copy all traffic to a analyzer; a management port is used for out-of-band switch management, not for traffic monitoring.