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24-port NWay Ethernet Switch User’s Guide
Switch Management Concepts 17
In the opposite case, if the Aging Time is too short, many entries may be aged out soon, resulting in a high percentage of
received packets whose source addresses cannot be found in the address table, in which case the switch will broadcast the
packet to all ports, negating many of the benefits of having a switch.
Filtering Database
A switch uses a filtering database to segment the network and control communications between segments. It also
filters packets off the network for intrusion control (MAC Address filtering).
For port filtering, each port on the switch is a unique collision domain and the switch filters (discards) packets whose
destination lies on the same port as where it originated. This keeps local packets from disrupting communications on
other parts of the network.
For intrusion control, whenever a switch encounters a packet originating from or destined to a MAC address defined by
the user, the switch will discard the packet.
Filtering includes:
1. Dynamic filtering – automatic learning and aging of MAC addresses and their location on the network. Filtering
occurs to keep local traffic confined to its segment.
2. MAC address filtering – the manual entry of specific MAC addresses to be filtered from the network.
3. Filtering done by the Spanning Tree Protocol, which can filter packets based on topology, making sure that signal
loops don’t occur.
4. Filtering done for VLAN integrity. Packets from a member of a VLAN (VLAN 2, for example) destined for a device
on another VLAN (VLAN 3) will be filtered.
Spanning Tree Algorithm
The Spanning Tree Algorithm (STA) in the Switch allows you to create alternative paths (with multiple switches or other
types of bridges) in your network. These backup paths are idle until the Switch determines that a problem has developed
in the primary paths. When a primary path is lost, the switch providing the alternative path will automatically go into
service with no operator intervention. This automatic network reconfiguration provides maximum uptime to network users.
The concept of the Spanning Tree Algorithm is a complicated and complex subject and must be fully researched and
understood. Please read the following before making any changes.
♦ Network loop detection and prevention With STA, there will be only one path between any two LANs. If
there is more than one path, forwarded packets will loop indefinitely. STA detects any looped path and selects the
path with the lowest path cost as the active path, while blocking the other path and using it as the backup path.
♦ Automatic topology re-configuration When the path for which there is a backup path fails, the backup
path will be automatically activated, and STA will automatically re-configure the network topology.
STA Operation Levels
STA operates on two levels: the bridge level and the port level. On the bridge level, STA calculates the Bridge Identifier for
each Switch, then sets the Root Bridge and the Designated Bridges. On the port level, STA sets the Root Port and
Designated Ports. Details are as follows: