Which of the following statements about IPv4 fragmentation is/are TRUE?
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GATE CSE 2024 Set 2 · Q28
Time
Select all that applyOne or more correct
Solution
Official answer: B) The fragmentation of an IP datagram is performed at any IP router which finds that the size of the datagram to be transmitted exceeds the MTU; C) The reassembly of fragments is performed only at the destination of the datagram
IPv4 FragmentationLet us evaluate each statement regarding IPv4 fragmentation and reassembly:
Statement (A) is FALSE and Statement (B) is TRUE: In IPv4, fragmentation can occur either at the source host or at any intermediate router along the path when the datagram size exceeds the outgoing interface's Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU).
Statement (C) is TRUE and Statement (D) is FALSE: Reassembly of fragmented IP datagrams is performed exclusively at the final destination host. Intermediate routers do not reassemble fragments because individual fragments may follow different paths and intermediate reassembly would introduce unnecessary buffering and processing overhead.
Hence, statements (B) and (C) are TRUE.
Try the question first, then check your work.
Examiner trap
Consider where an IP datagram may encounter an MTU smaller than its packet size, and where all fragments are guaranteed to meet again.
This IPv4 Fragmentation previous year question is Q28 of the GATE CSE 2024 Set 2 paper. Find more GATE CSE PYQs on IPv4 Fragmentation in Computer Networks, or browse all GATE CSE PYQs.
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IPv4 Fragmentation has 8 GATE CSE PYQs across 8 papers from 2014 to 2025. This is the only 1-mark MSQ among them, and it is the only one in GATE CSE 2024 Set 2.
How GATE tests IPv4 FragmentationIndependent practice explanation verified by the GateAI team. GATE is conducted by the IITs; question text follows the official paper.