GLBP operates primarily at which layer of the OSI model?

GLBP, or Gateway Load Balancing Protocol, operates primarily at the Data Link Layer of the OSI model. This protocol is designed to provide redundancy and load balancing for routers, allowing multiple routers to share a virtual IP address while distributing traffic among themselves. By facilitating layer 2 operations, GLBP enables hosts on a local area network (LAN) to route packets to a virtual gateway that can be handled by any of the participating routers.

At the Data Link Layer, protocols like GLBP manage how data packets are placed on the network and how to control access to the physical medium. While the other OSI layers relate to different aspects of networking—such as the Application Layer handling user-facing applications or the Network Layer dealing with logical addressing and routing—GLBP’s primary functions in redundancy and load balancing align closely with the responsibilities of the Data Link Layer.