Which component provides dedicated hardware-based packet forwarding in the fabric?

Which component provides dedicated hardware-based packet forwarding in the fabric?

• A. APIC
• B. ASIC
• C. EPG
• D. WLC

Answer: (B)

Packet forwarding in a fabric relies on dedicated hardware designed to process data at line rate. That role is filled by an ASIC, a purpose-built silicon device optimized for fast forwarding decisions, lookups, and handling of policies as packets move through the fabric. This hardware specialization lets the network forward traffic with low latency and high throughput without burdening general-purpose CPUs. Other terms don’t serve this forwarding role. An APIC is a processor component that manages interrupts in a computer system, not packet forwarding in a network fabric. An EPG is a logical grouping used for applying policies, not the mechanism that moves packets. A WLC is a wireless LAN controller, which manages wireless access points, not the fabric’s forwarding path.

Packet forwarding in a fabric relies on dedicated hardware designed to process data at line rate. That role is filled by an ASIC, a purpose-built silicon device optimized for fast forwarding decisions, lookups, and handling of policies as packets move through the fabric. This hardware specialization lets the network forward traffic with low latency and high throughput without burdening general-purpose CPUs.

Other terms don’t serve this forwarding role. An APIC is a processor component that manages interrupts in a computer system, not packet forwarding in a network fabric. An EPG is a logical grouping used for applying policies, not the mechanism that moves packets. A WLC is a wireless LAN controller, which manages wireless access points, not the fabric’s forwarding path.