Network Monitoring

Correct Answer: To test network connectivity by sending ICMP echo requests to a device and measuring response time.

A ping scan is primarily used to check network connectivity. It is a simple and common method that sends Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo requests to a target device and measures response time. This can help in network troubleshooting to determine whether a specific host is up or down. The other answers are incorrect because they describe different activities unrelated to a ping scan: encrypting data that is being transmitted over a network is associated with cryptography; flooding a network with traffic is a characteristic of a Denial of Service (DoS) attack; intercepting sensitive information transmitted over a network is related to network sniffing or eavesdropping, not a ping scan.

Correct Answer: To monitor and manage network devices remotely

The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is primarily used to monitor and manage network devices remotely. This allows network administrators to keep track of the performance of network devices, manage network configurations, and even detect network faults or anomalies. The other answers are incorrect because they describe functions that are not specific to SNMP. Creating virtual private network connections, scanning for open ports on a network, and encrypting network traffic are tasks that would typically be handled by other protocols or network management tools, not SNMP.

Correct Answer: To measure and track network usage and performance

The purpose of a bandwidth monitor in network monitoring is to measure and track network usage and performance. This is vital in maintaining the stability and efficiency of a network as it allows administrators to identify any potential issues or bottlenecks that could impact the network's performance. However, a bandwidth monitor does not block network traffic, it simply observes and analyzes it. While network tools can be used to prioritize network traffic, this is not the primary function of a bandwidth monitor. Bandwidth monitors also do not simulate network traffic, they monitor real traffic in order to provide accurate data and insights.