Managing Switches

Configuring Switch Features

Figure 13-9. Monitoring Selected Ports on a SwitchSetting Device Features

The Device Features page (only found on switches) lets you set some or all of these features:

Automatic Broadcast Control (ABC)—ABC reduces the number of broad- casts propagated through the network. See Automatic Broadcast Control for further discussion of this feature.

Multicast Filtering (IGMP)—The Internet Group Management Protocol is a method for automatically controlling multicast traffic through the network. Using multicasting, applications can send one copy of a packet addressed to a group of computers that wish to receive it. This method is more efficient than sending a separate copy to each node, and saves bandwidth when large transmissions such as video are sent across the network. See Internet Group Management Protocol for further discussion of this feature.

Spanning Tree—Spanning Tree is used to detect and break circular traffic patterns by disabling certain links. It prevents loops in redundant switches by maintaining the secondary switch as a backup.

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