Which switching method stores the entire frame in memory and checks for errors before forwarding?

• A. Cut-through
• B. Fragment-free
• C. Circuit-switching
• D. Store-and-forward

Answer: (D)

The concept here is buffering the whole frame to verify its integrity before sending it on. In store-and-forward switching, the switch receives the entire frame, stores it in memory, runs an error check (such as a CRC), and only forwards the frame if no errors are found. This helps prevent corrupted data from being propagated through the network, at the cost of higher latency due to the need to fully receive and inspect each frame.

Cut-through switches, by contrast, start forwarding as soon as enough header information (like the destination address) is read, without waiting for the rest of the frame or the CRC. Fragment-free is a middle ground that waits for the first portion of the frame to be readable before forwarding. Circuit-switching refers to a different network concept where a dedicated path is established for a communication session, not a frame-by-frame switching method.