Cisco Certified Network Professional Practice Test 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

In the context of GLBP (Gateway Load Balancing Protocol), the mode in which the host remains the same for each request is known as Host Dependent mode. This operating mode utilizes the MAC address of the host to determine which virtual gateway will be used for all packets coming from that host. Once a host is assigned a virtual gateway based on its MAC address, it consistently receives the same gateway for all its requests. This consistency is crucial for maintaining session state and ensuring interoperability between sessions that may not work well with changing gateways.

In contrast, the other modes introduce variable assignment of gateways. For instance, Weighted Distribution varies the gateway assignment based on predefined weights, which could change assignments for hosts over time. Round-Robin cycles through the available gateways for each request without regard to the specific host, meaning a single host could use different gateways for consecutive requests. Interface Weighing also assigns gateways based on weights, but it operates at the interface level, further adding to variability. Thus, Host Dependent mode offers stability for individual hosts, making it ideal for scenarios where consistent gateway access is necessary.