Final answer:
The RTS/CTS protocol should be considered for enabling on a WLAN in scenarios where there is a high risk of collisions and congestion on the network. It helps reduce collisions and improves network efficiency in crowded environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Request to Send/Clear to Send (RTS/CTS) protocol should be considered for enabling on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) when there is a high risk of collisions and congestion on the network. It is typically used in scenarios where there are multiple devices trying to transmit data simultaneously, causing interference and reducing the network performance.
By enabling the RTS/CTS protocol, devices will use a virtual handshake mechanism where the sender sends an RTS frame to notify other devices of its intention to transmit. Then, the devices will reply with a Clear to Send (CTS) frame if they are not transmitting data, allowing the sender to proceed. This protocol helps reduce collisions and improves network efficiency in crowded environments.
For example, in a college campus where there are multiple students downloading large files simultaneously, enabling RTS/CTS protocol can help manage the network traffic and minimize interference, resulting in better overall performance.