This statement is true based on the principles of the TCP/IP layered architecture. The transport layer (e.g., TCP, UDP) provides logical end-to-end communication between processes on the source and destination hosts. Intermediate routers operate at the network layer (Layer 3). A router's fundamental role is to forward packets based on the network layer header (IP address). It does not need to process the transport layer header for this core function. The transport layer information is encapsulated within the IP datagram and is intended only for the destination end system.

B. This option is not provided, but if it were "False," it would be considered incorrect in the context of an exam testing the pure TCP/IP model, despite real-world exceptions like NAT or ACLs.

1. Huawei HCIA-Datacom V1.0 Training Material. (2020). Section: "TCP/IP Protocol Stack"

pp. 1-52 to 1-54. This material describes the distinct functions of each layer

assigning end-to-end communication to the transport layer and routing to the network layer.

2. Clark

D. D. (1988). The design philosophy of the DARPA internet protocols. ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review

18(4)

106-114. https://doi.org/10.1145/52325.52336. This paper outlines the "end-to-end argument

" a core principle stating that functions like transport-level communication should reside in the end hosts

not intermediate network nodes.