DGS-3700-12/DGS-3700-12G Series Layer 2 Gigabit Ethernet Switch User Manual

Section 5

Security

Safeguard Engine Trusted Host IP-MAC-Port Binding

Port Security

DHCP Server Screening Settings 802.1X

SSL Settings

SSH

Access Authentication Control MAC-based Access Control Web Authentication NetBIOS Filtering

Safeguard Engine

Periodically, malicious hosts on the network will attack the Switch by utilizing packet flooding (ARP Storm) or other methods. These attacks may increase the Safeguard Engine beyond its capability. To alleviate this problem, the Safeguard Engine function was added to the Switch’s software.

The Safeguard Engine can help the overall operability of the Switch by minimizing the workload of the Switch while the attack is ongoing, thus making it capable to forward essential packets over its network in a limited bandwidth. When the Switch either (a) receives too many packets to process or (b) exerts too much memory, it will enter an Exhausted mode. When in this mode, the Switch only receives a small amount of ARP or IP broadcast packets for a calculated time interval. Every five seconds, the Switch will check to see if there are too many packets flooding the Switch. If the threshold has been crossed, the Switch will do a rate limit and only allow a small amount of ARP and IP broadcast packets for five seconds. After another five-second checking interval arrives, the Switch will again check the ingress flow of packets. If the flooding has stopped, the Switch will again begin accepting all packets. Yet, if the checking shows that there continues to be too many packets flooding the Switch, it will still only accept a small amount of ARP and IP broadcast packets for double the time of the previous stop period. This doubling of time for stopping ingress ARP and IP broadcast packets will continue until the maximum time has been reached, which is 320 seconds and every stop from this point until a return to normal ingress flow would be 320 seconds. For a better understanding, examine the following example of the Safeguard Engine.

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D-Link DGS-3700 user manual Security, Safeguard Engine