MAC Address Table
The routing decisions routers make are based on the data in the routing table. Similarly, the switches include an address database. The MAC-Address table is a database that serves as the foundation for how to switch forward frames. This database is used by the switch to identify the source and destination of frames when communicating. Following are the actions that are conducted when a switch wants to forward a frame.
- The switch receives the frame from a port.
- If the source port from which it received the frame is present, the switch verifies this. It adds the source MAC address to its MAC address table if it doesn’t.
- The switch then determines whether its MAC address database contains the target port for the frame. If it does not, it broadcasts the frame to all ports except the one it received the frame on.
- The switch adds the MAC address to the MAC-address database when the target node responds, and any further communication with this node will be unicast rather than broadcast.
Switch Concepts and Configuration
A switch is a discrete piece of hardware that connects various computers to a single local area network (LAN). In the OSI model, network switches function at layer 2 (Data link layer).
- On the basis of MAC addresses, switches are utilized to forward the packets.
- The switch makes it possible for the device that has been addressed to receive the data.
- It checks the destination address before properly routing the packet.
- Full duplex operation is used.
- Since the source and destination are communicating directly, packet collision is minimal.
- It does not broadcast the message since its bandwidth is constrained.
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