Static Virtual LANs (VLANs)
Multiple VLAN Considerations
Multiple VLAN Considerations
Switches use a forwarding database to maintain awareness of which external devices are located on which VLANs. Some switches, such as the switches covered in this guide, have a multiple forwarding database, which means the switch allows multiple database entries of the same MAC address, with each entry showing the (different) source VLAN and source port. Other switch models have a single forwarding database, which means they allow only one database entry of a unique MAC address, along with the source VLAN and source port on which it is found. All VLANs on a switch use the same MAC address. Thus, connecting a multiple forwarding database switch to a single forwarding database switch where multiple VLANs exist imposes some cabling and port VLAN assignment restrictions. Table
Multiple Forwarding Database
MAC Address | Destination | Destination |
| VLAN ID | Port |
|
|
|
1 | A5 | |
22 | A12 | |
44 | A20 | |
33 | A20 |
Single Forwarding Database
MAC Address | Destination | Destination |
| VLAN ID | Port |
|
|
|
100 | A9 | |
105 | A10 | |
107 | A17 |
This database allows multiple destinations for the same MAC address. If the switch detects a new destination for an existing MAC entry, it just addsa new instance of that MAC to the table.
This database allows only one destination for a MAC address. If the switch detects a new destination for an existing MAC entry, it replaces the existing MAC instance with a new instance showing the new destination.
To determine whether other vendors’ devices use
Single Forwarding Database Operation
When a packet arrives with a destination MAC address that matches a MAC address in the switch’s forwarding table, the switch tries to send the packet to the port listed for that MAC address. But, if the destination port is in a different VLAN than the VLAN on which the packet was received, the switch