What is one function of a Layer 2 switch?
One function of a Layer 2 switch is to perform frame forwarding based on the Media Access Control (MAC) addresses.
It operates at the Data Link Layer of the OSI model and uses MAC addresses to make decisions about where to forward network traffic. When a switch receives a frame, it examines the destination MAC address in the frame’s header and checks its MAC address table to determine the outgoing interface. It then forwards the frame only to the necessary port, reducing unnecessary network traffic.
Additionally, Layer 2 switches can also learn and update their MAC address tables dynamically. This process is known as MAC address learning. As frames are received on different switch ports, the switch associates the source MAC addresses with their corresponding port in the MAC address table. This allows the switch to make forwarding decisions more efficiently as it begins to associate MAC addresses with specific port locations. It eliminates the need to flood frames to all ports, improving network efficiency.
By performing these functions, Layer 2 switches enable the creation of local area networks (LANs) where devices can communicate with each other using MAC addresses, providing a more efficient and secure method of data transmission within a network.
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