CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

What does GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) primarily provide?

1. A secure data transfer method

2. A mechanism for encapsulating a variety of network protocols

3. A method for logging network messages

4. A protocol for managing remote desktops

The correct answer is: A mechanism for encapsulating a variety of network protocols

GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) primarily provides a mechanism for encapsulating a variety of network protocols. This encapsulation allows different types of data packets to be encapsulated into the GRE packet format, enabling them to be transmitted over an IP network. This is particularly useful for creating point-to-point connections across different network architectures and allows for the transportation of non-IP protocols over IP networks. For example, GRE can encapsulate protocols such as IPX, AppleTalk, and others, making it versatile for connecting disparate systems. By facilitating encapsulation, GRE plays a crucial role in the implementation of virtual private networks (VPNs), enabling the secure and efficient transmission of broader types of traffic while maintaining the integrity and compatibility of the underlying data. The other options don't correctly reflect GRE's primary purpose. Secure data transfer is typically associated with protocols like IPsec. Logging network messages relates more to monitoring and management protocols, rather than encapsulation. Managing remote desktops is covered under other specific protocols like RDP or VNC, which do not involve GRE.