Cisco's hierarchical internetworking model is a ______________ layer model for network design.

• A. Two
• B. Three
• C. Four
• D. Five

Answer: (B)

Understanding how Cisco structures networks with layers to improve scalability and manageability. In the Cisco hierarchical model, traffic is organized into three layers: the access layer, where end devices connect to the network; the distribution layer, which enforces policies, aggregates traffic, and handles inter-VLAN routing; and the core layer, the fast backbone that interconnects distribution blocks with minimal processing. This three-layer design keeps edge devices simple, centralizes policy and routing decisions in the middle, and provides a high-speed backbone for efficient data transfer, making it the standard description of Cisco’s hierarchical approach. While other frameworks may describe two, four, or five layers, the canonical Cisco model is three-layer.