What does a router do to prevent an IPv4 packet from traveling endlessly on a network?

What does a router do to prevent an IPv4 packet from traveling endlessly on a network?

• A. Increments the value of the TTL field by 1
• B. Decrements the TTL field value and discards the packet if it reaches 0
• C. Increases the packet size until it reaches the destination
• D. Sets the TTL field to its maximum value

Answer: (B)

A router manages the longevity of an IPv4 packet in a network by utilizing the Time to Live (TTL) field. The TTL field is designed specifically to prevent packets from circulating indefinitely, which could occur due to misconfigurations or routing loops. When a router receives an IPv4 packet, it decrements the TTL value by one. If the TTL reaches zero, the packet is discarded, and this action ensures that the packet cannot continue to circulate endlessly in the network, thus maintaining the overall health and efficiency of the network. This mechanism is essential as it helps to avoid network congestion and resource exhaustion that could arise from packets being endlessly forwarded around routing loops. By enforcing this TTL policy, routers play a crucial role in facilitating network stability and reliability.

A router manages the longevity of an IPv4 packet in a network by utilizing the Time to Live (TTL) field. The TTL field is designed specifically to prevent packets from circulating indefinitely, which could occur due to misconfigurations or routing loops.

When a router receives an IPv4 packet, it decrements the TTL value by one. If the TTL reaches zero, the packet is discarded, and this action ensures that the packet cannot continue to circulate endlessly in the network, thus maintaining the overall health and efficiency of the network. This mechanism is essential as it helps to avoid network congestion and resource exhaustion that could arise from packets being endlessly forwarded around routing loops. By enforcing this TTL policy, routers play a crucial role in facilitating network stability and reliability.