Address Table
The SMC8506T is implemented with a 24K MAC address table. This
large address table is used to store the address information of nodes
in the network, including MAC address, port no, etc. This
information comes from the learning process of this gigabit switch..
Learning
When one packet comes in from any port. The Giga Switch will
record the source address, port no. and the other related information
in address table. This information will be used to decide either
forwarding or filtering for future packets.
Forwarding & Filtering
When one packet comes from some port of the Ethernet Switching, it
will also check the destination address besides the source address
learning. The Ethernet Switching will lookup the address-table for
the destination address. If not found, this packet will be forwarded to
all the other ports except the port which this packet comes in. And
these ports will transmit this packet to the network it connected. If
found, and the destination address is located at different port from
this packet comes in, the Ethernet Switching will forward this packet
to the port where this destination address is located according to the
information from address table. But, if the destination address is
located at the same port with this packet comes in, then this packet
will be filtered. Thereby increasing the network throughput and
availability
Store-and-Forward
Store-and-Forward is one type of packet-forwarding techniques. A
Store-and Forward Ethernet Switching stores the incoming frame in