Question

What occurs if a network layer protocol is aware that a packet is larger than the maximum size for its network?

a. The protocol will notify a network router capable of receiving the packet, and a new path will be used to the destination.
b. The protocol will send an ICMP message to the destination, requesting a larger packet size be allowed.
c. The packet will be dropped silently, requiring the communicating application try again.
d The packet will be divided into smaller packets using fragmentation.

Answer 1

When a packet exceeds the network's MTU, it is divided into smaller packets through fragmentation, which are then sent and reassembled at the destination.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a network layer protocol detects that a packet is larger than the maximum transmission unit (MTU) of the network, the action taken is fragmentation. This means the large packet will be divided into smaller packets, each within the size limit of the network's MTU. These smaller packets are then sent to the destination, where they are reassembled into the original large packet. It is important to note that while fragmentation helps in ensuring the delivery of large packets over different networks with varying MTUs, it can increase overhead and potentially negatively impact performance due to the increased number of packets and the need for reassembly at the destination.