Question

When planning for network growth, where in the network should packet captures take place to assess network traffic?

Answer 1

Packet captures should take place at core switches or routers, distribution switches, and internet gateways to assess network traffic during network growth.

Step-by-step explanation:

When planning for network growth, packet captures should take place in strategic locations throughout the network to accurately assess network traffic. These strategic locations include:

1. Core Switches or Routers: These devices are responsible for handling the majority of the network traffic and provide a centralized point for capturing packets.
2. Distribution Switches: These switches connect multiple devices to the core network and capturing packets at these points provides insights into traffic distribution.
3. Internet Gateways: These points are where the network connects to the internet, and monitoring traffic here helps to understand the incoming and outgoing data.

By capturing packets at these strategic locations, network administrators can accurately analyze the traffic flow, identify bottlenecks, detect anomalies, and make informed decisions to optimize the network for future growth.