Frame Flooding

 

FRAME FLOODING

FRAME FLOODING IS A TECHNIQUE USED BY SWITCHES TO FORWARD DATA PACKETS WHEN THE DESTINATION MAC ADDRESS IS NOT IN THE SWITCH'S MAC TABLE. IN THIS CASE, THE SWITCH WILL FORWARD THE PACKET TO ALL OF ITS PORTS.

THIS ENSURES THAT THE PACKET WILL EVENTUALLY REACH THE DESTINATION DEVICE, BUT IT CAN ALSO CAUSE CONGESTION ON THE NETWORK.

FRAME FLOODING IS TYPICALLY USED WHEN A SWITCH IS FIRST TURNED ON OR WHEN A NEW DEVICE IS CONNECTED TO THE NETWORK. THE SWITCH DOES NOT YET KNOW THE MAC ADDRESS OF THE NEW DEVICE.

SO IT FLOODS THE PACKET TO ALL OF ITS PORTS. ONCE THE SWITCH LEARNS THE MAC ADDRESS OF THE NEW DEVICE, IT WILL NO LONGER NEED TO FLOOD PACKETS TO THAT DEVICE.

FRAME FLOODING CAN ALSO BE USED TO TROUBLESHOOT NETWORK PROBLEMS. IF A SWITCH IS NOT FORWARDING PACKETS TO A PARTICULAR DEVICE, YOU CAN TRY FLOODING THE PACKET TO ALL OF THE PORTS TO SEE IF THAT RESOLVES THE PROBLEM.

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