Define a broadcast storm and how it is prevented in networks.

• A. A broadcast storm is rapid unicast traffic.
• B. A broadcast storm is excessive broadcast traffic causing network congestion; prevented by STP, VLAN segmentation, rate limiting, and controlling broadcast domains.
• C. A broadcast storm only happens in wireless networks.
• D. A broadcast storm is when a single device stops all traffic.

Answer: (B)

A broadcast storm happens when excessive broadcast traffic propagates through the network, flooding links and devices and causing severe congestion and dropped frames. This often occurs when there are misconfigurations or a switching loop that causes broadcast frames to be forwarded endlessly, multiplying traffic across the network.

Preventing it relies on keeping broadcast traffic from looping or spreading too far. Spanning Tree Protocol stops switching loops by designating active paths and blocking redundant ones, so broadcasts don’t circulate indefinitely. VLAN segmentation confines broadcast traffic to a smaller domain, reducing the reach of each broadcast. Rate limiting on network devices caps the amount of broadcast traffic that can be sent, preventing a surge from overwhelming the network. Controlling broadcast domains—using routers or Layer 3 devices to break up networks so broadcasts don’t cross into unrelated segments—further limits where broadcasts can travel.

The other options aren’t aligned with how broadcast storms behave: they’re not just rapid unicast traffic, they don’t restrict storms to wireless networks, and a storm isn’t defined by a single device stopping all traffic.