| Explanation & Hint:
In a large enterprise network, routers at the distribution layer typically perform the following two functions:
- Provide data traffic security: The distribution layer often implements security policies through access control lists (ACLs), firewall features, and packet filtering to manage the flow of network traffic between different subnets and prevent unauthorized access.
- Connect users to the network: The distribution layer serves as the intermediary between the access layer and the core layer, aggregating the data from multiple access layer switches before it is transmitted to the core network. It manages the routing and switching operations that direct packets from the user-access layer to the network services layer, often handling policy-based connectivity and directing traffic flows around the network.
The other options provided are less typical for routers at the distribution layer:
- Connect remote networks: This is usually the role of the core layer, which provides high-speed, high-capacity transport to various parts of the network including remote connections. The distribution layer can route traffic towards remote networks, but the long-distance connectivity is generally managed at the core.
- Provide Power over Ethernet (PoE) to devices: This is not a function of routers at any layer; instead, it is typically a feature provided by switches at the access layer where endpoint devices are connected.
- Provide a high-speed network backbone: This function is associated with the core layer of the network, which is designed to be highly redundant and optimized for fast and reliable data transport across the entire network. The distribution layer manages traffic between the access and core layers but is not typically considered the high-speed backbone itself.
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