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Why does a switch need a MAC address?
Switches need to keep track of the MAC addresses of all connected devices. Without the learning function, the switch would not know to which port the destination device is connected. At the center of the learning function is a part of the switch’s memory. We refer to this memory location as the MAC Address Table.
Does a switch have its own MAC address?
Switches are unlike hubs or repeaters. Switches usually have a bunch of MAC addresses reserved in its MAC address table. When forwarding a frame, the switch first looks up the MAC address table by the destination MAC address of the frame for the outgoing port.
How do I enable STP on a Cisco switch?
All switches from Cisco ship with Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) enabled by default, but if STP is misconfigured for any reason, you can easily enable it. To enable spanning tree, connect to your switch and type spanning-tree mode while in Global Configuration mode.
How do I turn on STP?
Select the network location for which you want to enable or disable STP. Select Wired > Settings > Spanning Tree. Under Spanning Tree Mode, select Disable, STP, or RSTP. Tap Save.
Does switch read IP address?
When computers are on the same IP segment, it means that the computers belong to the same network. But since the switch does not have the capability to assign IP addresses, the computers connected to it will not be able to communicate with each other. They will get an Automatic Private IP Address (APIPA).
What happens to the network when STP is enabled?
When STP is enabled every switch in the network starts in the blocking state and transitions to listening and learning states. If properly configured, the ports then stabilize to the forwarding or blocking state until a change in the network is made.
Which is the primary decision making switch in STP?
STP has a root and branches like a tree. The primary decision-making switch in an STP environment is called the root bridge. The network will flow out from the root bridge to form a logical branched network. All switches in a LAN participating in STP branch from the root switch port or bridge.
When does STP go from disable to blocking?
As far as I know, It goes from disable state first to blocking one and only then to listening on condition that it will play a role of designated or root port. And in the blocking state it must remain for 20 seconds (MaxAge timer to expire). But what if initialized switch receives superior BPDU.
Which is layer 2 protocol does STP support?
STP is a link management protocol designed to support redundant links that stops switching loops in the STP network. It is a Layer 2 protocol that runs on bridges and switches, which should be enabled on the switch interfaces. IEEE standardized STP protocols as IEE 802.1D.