The question asks about the least amount of equipment to segment two departments that have cables terminating in the same room.
Segmentation is the process of dividing a network into smaller logical units for security, performance, or management purposes.
One way to segment a network is by using VLANs (virtual LANs), which are logical groups of devices that share the same broadcast domain, regardless of their physical location or connection.
VLANs can be configured on switches that support Layer 2 or Layer 3 functionality. Layer 2 switches operate at the data link layer and forward frames based on MAC addresses. Layer 3 switches operate at the network layer and forward packets based on IP addresses.
A Layer 3 switch can perform both Layer 2 and Layer 3 functions, and can also route traffic between different VLANs without the need for an external router. This makes it a versatile and efficient device for network segmentation.
Therefore, the answer is C, a Layer 3 switch, as it can segment two departments with the least amount of equipment.
Reference:
CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Study Guide, Chapter 2: Network Devices and Technologies, Section 2.1: Network Devices, Pages 74-75 Professor Messer's CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Course, Video 2.1: Network Devices, Part 1 Network + N10-008 practice exam, Question 977, Answer C, Explanation