Which media communication type does not require media arbitration in the data link layer?

• A. deterministic
• B. half-duplex
• C. full-duplex
• D. controlled access

Answer: (C)

Full-duplex provides a dedicated, bidirectional link between two devices, so there is no shared channel for contention. Because the path is point-to-point and separate for sending and receiving, there’s no possibility of other devices “fighting” for the same medium, and no arbitration mechanism is needed to decide who can transmit. Transmit and receive can occur simultaneously, with flow control handling pacing if necessary. In contrast, half-duplex on a shared Ethernet segment requires arbitration (like CSMA/CD) to manage access and avoid collisions, and deterministic or controlled access schemes coordinate transmissions through tokens or schedules. So the type that does not require media arbitration is full-duplex.