The Distribution Layer serves as the communication point between which two layers?

• A. Access Layer and Core Layer
• B. Core Layer and Aggregation Layer
• C. Access Layer and Aggregation Layer
• D. Core Layer and Edge Layer

Answer: (C)

The Distribution Layer is the boundary where traffic from user devices gets prepared for the backbone. It aggregates connections from multiple access switches, applies routing and policy, and forwards traffic toward the Core Layer. This layer handles inter-VLAN routing, enforces security and quality-of-service policies, and provides a stable, policy-driven handoff to the core so that data from end devices can reach other parts of the network efficiently. In most designs, this is understood as the bridge between the Access Layer and the Core Layer (sometimes called the Aggregation Layer in other diagrams, but the role remains the same).