CompTIA Network+ (N10-009)Networking ConceptsHard
A data center administrator notices most traffic flows between servers within the same data center (server-to-server) rather than between clients outside the data center and servers inside it. How is this internal server-to-server traffic pattern classified?
- AEast-west traffic
- BNorth-south traffic
- CIngress traffic
- DBroadcast traffic
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. East-west traffic
East-west traffic refers to data flowing laterally between servers or devices within the same data center or network segment, as opposed to north-south traffic, which flows between the data center and external clients or networks.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. North-south traffic describes flow between the data center and external clients/networks, not internal server-to-server flow.
- C. Ingress traffic refers to data entering a network or device from outside, not a directional traffic classification like east-west.
- D. Broadcast traffic refers to messages sent to all devices on a segment, unrelated to directional flow classification.
East-West Traffic
East-west traffic is data communication that flows laterally between servers or devices within the same data center, distinct from north-south traffic entering/exiting the data center.
- Common in spine-leaf architectures optimized for east-west flow
- Contrasts with north-south (client-to-server) traffic
- High east-west volume drives designs like spine-leaf fabrics
Memory trick: East-west stays inside the map; north-south crosses the border.