1. Configuring Catalyst Switch Operations
Introducing Basic Layer 2 Switching and
Bridging Functions

2. Outline
• Overview
• Functions of Ethernet Switches and Bridges
• Frame Transmission Modes
• How Switches and Bridges Learn Source MAC
Addresses
• How Switches and Bridges Forward and Filter Frames
• Summary

3. Ethernet Switches and Bridges
• Address learning
• Forwarding based on the learned addresses
• Loop avoidance

4. Transmitting Frames
Cut-Through Store and Forward
• Switch checks destination • Complete frame is received and
address and immediately checked before forwarding
begins forwarding frame
Fragment-Free
• Switch checks the first 64 bytes,
then immediately
begins forwarding frame

5. MAC Address Table
• The initial MAC address table is empty.

6. Learning Addresses
• Station A sends a frame to station C.
• The switch caches the MAC address of station A to port E0
by learning the source address of data frames.
• The frame from station A to station C is flooded out to all
ports except port E0 (unknown unicasts are flooded).

7. Learning Addresses (Cont.)
• Station D sends a frame to station C.
• The switch caches the MAC address of station D to port E3 by
learning the source address of data frames.
• The frame from station D to station C is flooded out to all ports
except port E3 (unknown unicasts are flooded).

8. Filtering Frames
• Station A sends a frame to station C.
• The destination is known; the frame is not flooded.

9. Filtering Frames (Cont.)
• Station A sends a frame to station B.
• The switch has the address for station B in the MAC
address table.

10. Broadcast and Multicast Frames
• Station D sends a broadcast or multicast frame.