Which portion of the network layer address does a router use to forward packets?
A router uses the IP address, which is a part of the network layer address, to forward packets.
The IP address is a unique identifier assigned to each device connected to a network. It consists of two parts: the network address and the host address. The network address identifies the specific network to which the device is connected, while the host address identifies the specific device within that network.
When a router receives a packet, it examines the destination IP address of the packet to determine the appropriate next-hop router or destination network. The router then uses its routing table, which contains information about the network topology and available paths, to determine the best path for packet forwarding.
By comparing the network address of the destination IP address with the entries in its routing table, the router can determine the next-hop router or appropriate interface to forward the packet. This process of forwarding packets based on the IP address is known as IP forwarding.
In summary, a router uses the IP address, specifically the network address, to make decisions about packet forwarding in the network layer.
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