5USING THE SWITCH DATABASE
What is the Switch
Database?
The Switch Database is used by the Switch to determine where a packet
should be forwarded to, and which port should transmit t he packet if it is
to be forwarded.
The database contains a list of entries — each e ntry contains three items:
■MAC (Ethernet) address information of the endst ation that sends
packets to the Switch.
■Port identifier, that is the port attached to the endstation that is
sending the packet.
■VLAN ID of the VLAN to which the endstation belongs.
For details of the number of addresses supported b y your Switch
database, please refer to Chapter 1 of the Getting Started Guide that
accompanies your Switch.
For detailed descriptions of the web interface operations and the
command line interface (CLI) comma nds that you require to manage the
Switch please refer to the Management Interface Reference Guide
supplied in HTML format on the CD-ROM that accompanies your Switch.
How Switch
Database Entries
Get Added
Entries are added to the Switch Database in one of two ways:
■The Switch can learn entries. The Switch updates its database with the
source MAC address of the endstation that sent the packet, the VLAN
ID, and the port identifier on which the packet is recei ved.
■You can enter and update entries using the management interface, or
an SNMP Network Manager.