To answer this question, you need to understand the concept of transparency in networking.
Transparency refers to the ability of a networking technology to operate without the need for the user or application to have knowledge of its underlying details. In other words, it allows for seamless communication between different devices or networks without requiring any specific configuration or intervention.
Both bridging and switching are networking technologies that provide transparency. They operate at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model and are responsible for forwarding data packets within a local area network (LAN).
Option A) Encryption - Encryption is a security mechanism used to protect data by converting it into a form that cannot be easily understood by unauthorized users. While encryption can be used in conjunction with bridging and switching, it is not directly related to the transparency aspect.
Option B) Upper layer protocol - This option is the correct answer. Upper layer protocols, such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol), are responsible for providing services and functionality at higher layers of the OSI model (Layers 4 to 7). While upper layer protocols are not directly related to the operation of bridging and switching, their transparency is a primary advantage because they can seamlessly communicate with different devices or networks without requiring specific knowledge or configuration.
Option C) Lower Layer protocol - Lower layer protocols, such as Ethernet and Wi-Fi, operate at the physical and data link layers (Layers 1 and 2) of the OSI model. While lower layer protocols are involved in the operation of bridging and switching, they are not the primary advantage in terms of transparency.
Option D) None of the above - This option is incorrect because the correct answer is Option B.
Therefore, the correct answer is B) Upper layer protocol. This option is correct because the transparency provided by bridging and switching allows upper layer protocols to seamlessly communicate without requiring specific knowledge or configuration.