Question

A network printer can connect directly to a network with its own NIC. How is a network printer identified on the network?

1) By its IP address
2) By its MAC address
3) By its subnet mask
4) By its default gateway

Answer 1

A network printer is primarily identified on a network by its IP address, which is a unique identifier that allows devices to find and communicate with the printer. It also has a MAC address, but this is not typically used for identification purposes.

Step-by-step explanation:

A network printer is commonly identified on a network by several attributes, but primarily by its IP address. The IP address serves as a unique identifier for the printer on the network, allowing devices to locate and communicate with it.

However, the printer also has a MAC address, which is a physical address assigned to the network interface card (NIC). The MAC address is used for local network communication within the same subnet. Network printers don't use a subnet mask or a default gateway for identification purposes; rather, a subnet mask is used to define the network's size, and a default gateway serves as an access point to other networks.