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Switch MAC table

admin_2
Level 3
Level 3

I have a query that why there is a limit of 8192 MAC addresses in a switch MAC table

How can we create more than 1 IP network segments on a Switch

2 Replies 2

kai16181
Level 1
Level 1

To create additional network segments on a switch you can create VLANS (virtual LANS) people usually group VLANS by order of use. For example a purchasing dept may use one VLAN and the HR dept might use another.

For each of these VLANS to communicate you can use a Router for InterVLAN routing, although some higher level switches will allow you to use multilayer switching such as the 6500, 4000 etc.

What sort of devices are you intending on using? Do you have an external router available or would you use a modular setup (eg Catalyst series switch with RSM)

Hope this helps...

Kai Nicholls

wkumari
Level 1
Level 1

The MAC table is stored in CAM (Content Accessable Memory), which is fairly expensive (and usually small). The CAM on many switches is only 8k, but some switches do have much larger CAMs. It is very, very seldom that anyone even approaches the 8k limit as netowrks with 8000 switched nodes are not very common. As to your second question, it all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If you want 2 seperate subnets on a switch and want to route between the subnets you will need a router (or L3 switch). If you want to seperate layer 2 segments as well you will need to implement VLANs. Please post more details about what you are trying to accomplish and we will provide more answers!

Warren.

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