Layer 2 network switches are crucial components in local area networks (LANs), providing multiple functions for data packet forwarding and network segmentation. One inherent characteristic of switches is their susceptibility to traffic loops, especially in networks with redundant paths. Without proper loop prevention protocols like Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), loops can cause broadcast storms and network instability. Additionally, switches inherently flood broadcast traffic to all ports within the broadcast domain, except the port on which the broadcast was received. This is because broadcast frames are meant to be delivered to all devices within the VLAN, and the switch ensures this by flooding these frames to all ports in the VLAN, except the source port.

The Routing Engine (RE) in Junos OS has several critical functions, including processing all management traffic (A) and running the Junos operating system (B). The RE handles system management tasks, user interfaces, system services, and routing protocol processes. It does not directly process transit traffic or evaluate firewall filters for transit traffic, as these tasks are handled by the Packet Forwarding Engine (PFE).

Exception traffic refers to packets that the Packet Forwarding Engine (PFE) cannot process normally and must be forwarded to the Routing Engine (RE) for further processing. This includes packets destined for the router itself or packets needing special handling that the PFE cannot provide. To protect the RE from being overwhelmed by such traffic, which could potentially impact the router's control plane functions, exception traffic is rate-limited. This means that there's a threshold to how much exception traffic can be sent to the RE, ensuring that the router's critical management and control functions remain stable and responsive even during high traffic volumes or attacks.

In Junos OS, a policer is a feature used to limit the rate of traffic flow in the network, including exception traffic sent from the Packet Forwarding Engine (PFE) to the Routing Engine (RE). Exception traffic consists of packets that cannot be processed by the PFE alone and require intervention by the RE, such as control packets or packets destined for the device itself. A policer can be configured to enforce bandwidth limits and drop or mark packets that exceed specified rate limits, thus protecting the RE from being overwhelmed by excessive exception traffic.

In Junos OS, the archival configuration under [edit system] allows for the automatic backup of configuration files to designated locations upon commit. When multiple archive-sites are specified, as shown in the exhibit with both SCP and FTP sites listed, the device does not choose between them or use them in a round-robin manner. Instead, it attempts to transfer the configuration backup files to all specified sites simultaneously upon each commit. This ensures redundancy and increases the likelihood that a backup will be successfully stored even if one of the transfer methods or destinations fails.