A: LAN Switching Logic

 In 200-301 V1 Ch05: Ethernet Switching, 200-301 V1 Part 2: Ethernet, CCENT-OLD, Q&A

It seems simple… and then you’re sitting at the #CCENT or #CCNA exam. Where does that Ethernet frame really go? I posted a question about LAN Switching a few days back. Here are the answers! Post with any related clarifications or comments.

Letter Answers

A, D

 

Explanation

 

Several key concepts must be applied to answer this question. First, consider the frames. The first frames goes from A to C, and the second is a return frame from C to A. As worded, the question also implies that these frames both are addressed using the unicast MAC addresses of the two hosts, so neither are broadcast frames.

The second key concept is that by the time the first frame arrives at host C, both SW1 and SW2 will have built correct MAC table entries for host A’s MAC address. The reason is that switches learn MAC addresses based on the source MAC address, and the source MAC of the first frame is host A’s MAC address.

The second frame has a destination address of host A’s MAC. As a result, this second frame, sent from host C to host A, will not be flooded because both switches already know the best port out which to forward frames sent to host A’s MAC. This path will be: to first enter SW2’s F0/9 interface; exit SW2’s G0/2 interface; enter SW1’s G0/1 interface; then exit SW1’s F0/1 interface.

The wrong answers are wrong simply because they are not part of the forwarding path from SW2, to SW1, and on to host A, once the two switches have learned of host A’s MAC address.

 

Q: LAN Switching Logic
Q: A Port Security Question
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bthethy

Yay I got this right 1st time 🙂

lyjo

🙂

Calvin

Hi what is the question to this answer?

lyjo

Hi Calvin,
It’s linked at the bottom of the page… but here’s the URL:
https://www.certskills.com/ccent/q103/
W

kevlim123

I’m a bit confused, I kind of get why the right answers are right but I’m not sure I understand why. Let me spell out my logic: On SW2 Port F0/9 is ignored, so the switch receives the frame, “skips” F0/9 & forwards the frame straight to port G0/2 (since the MAC address table is already built), SW1 receives the frame on port G0/1, “skips” past this port & forwards it straight out port F0/1 (again since the MAC address table is already built)
It’s this concept of “skipping” I’m struggling with, I’m missing something because I thought it went port F0/9 >> port G0/2 >>> port G0/1 >>> port F0/1
I’m probably over complicating matters & missing something I should already know, thanks!

GJM

You are bundling receiving and forwarding of frames as ‘one and the same’.
SW2 receives or ‘arrives’ on fa0/9, forwards or ‘leaves’ on gi0/2
SW1 receives or ‘arrives’ on gi0/1, forwards or ‘leaves’ on fa0/1

kevlim123

Hi, I’m a little bit confused as to the switch logic when receiving know MAC address frames.
I thought it would go F0/9 >>> G0/2 >>> G0/1 >>> F0/1
My stab at the logic is this; because the destination MAC address is known, it’s like the frame “skips” the incoming port & goes straight out the correct port. Like the switch looks at the incoming frame, stops it before it comes in an incoming int (eg port G0/1 on SW1) & sends it straight out the correct port.
I know I’m missing something I should already know but I want to get this stuff straight in my head!

lyjo

Hi Kevlim,
Your sequence of interfaces is correct for the interfaces that the frame enters AND exits.
Enters SW2 F0/9
Exits SW2 G0/2
Enters SW1 G0/1
Exits SW1 F0/1

If you understand the true reasons for that, and why SW1 does NOT forward the frame out its ports F0/2 nor G0/2, then you’re probably fine. Assuming you understand all that, maybe you missed the question because it’s asking for the ports OUT which that 2nd frame is forwarded. So that’s only the two ports in my list with the word “exits” in them.

Hope this helps,
Wendell

kevlim123

I see, thank you for clearing that up, I can sleep well now 🙂

Marc

I´ve a question about the 1st frame send from A to C. Did SW1 broadcast the first frame cause the empty MAC table? How SW1 has learned the mac address from host C?

lyjo

Marc,
SW1 didn’t “broadcast” the frame, it “flooded” the frame – but I’m guessing that’s what you meant? Yes, SW1, with an empty MAC address table, upon receiving a frame, did not see the destination MAC address of the frame in its MAC address table, so it flooded the frame.
SW1 will learn host C’s MAC when host C sends a frame because that frame would list host C’s MAC as the source MAC. (Switch learning happens based on the source MAC.)

Chris Dedman-Rollet

Basically, Host A send to Sw1 by enter FA0/1 out G0/1, enter in Sw2 by G0/2 and out by FA0/9 to Host C.
Host C send to Sw2 by enter FA0/9 out G0/2, enter in Sw1 by G0/1 and out by FA0/1 to Host A ?

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