Switches Flashcards
What is the primary function of a switch in a network?
The primary function of a switch is to forward Ethernet frames between devices within the same network, using MAC addresses to determine the destination.
How do switches differ from routers?
Switches operate at Layer 2 (Data Link Layer) and forward frames based on MAC addresses, while routers operate at Layer 3 (Network Layer) and forward packets based on IP addresses.
What is a “cut-through” switching method?
The “cut-through” method forwards a frame as soon as the destination MAC address is read, without waiting for the entire frame to be received.
What is the purpose of a “store-and-forward” switching method?
The “store-and-forward” method stores the entire frame before forwarding it, performing error checking and ensuring the integrity of the frame before it is sent.
What is the significance of a switch’s MAC address table?
The MAC address table (or forwarding table) stores the MAC addresses of devices connected to the switch and their associated ports, allowing the switch to forward frames efficiently.
What is the difference between a Layer 2 and a Layer 3 switch?
A Layer 2 switch operates at the Data Link Layer and handles frame forwarding, while a Layer 3 switch can perform routing tasks, forwarding traffic based on IP addresses in addition to MAC addresses.
What is a broadcast domain in the context of a switch?
A broadcast domain refers to a network segment where all devices can receive broadcast frames sent by any other device within the same domain.
How does a switch handle collisions in a network?
Switches use a technique called “collision domain segmentation” to reduce collisions by creating separate collision domains for each port, ensuring that each device connected to a switch port can send data without colliding with other devices.
What is port security on a switch?
Port security is a feature that restricts access to switch ports by limiting the number of MAC addresses that can be learned or specifying which MAC addresses are allowed to access the port.
How can you configure a switch port as an access port in Junos OS?
To configure a switch port as an access port in Junos OS, use the command: set interfaces <interface-name> unit 0 family ethernet-switching port-mode access.</interface-name>
