N10-005 · Question #360
Which of the following network devices builds a table of ports to MAC addresses to forward packets only to necessary ports?
The correct answer is A. Switch. A network switch builds and maintains a MAC address table (CAM table) that maps port numbers to MAC addresses, allowing it to forward frames only to the correct destination port.
Question
Which of the following network devices builds a table of ports to MAC addresses to forward packets only to necessary ports?
Options
- ASwitch
- BHub
- CRouter
- DRepeater
How the community answered
(34 responses)- A88% (30)
- B3% (1)
- C3% (1)
- D6% (2)
Why each option
A network switch builds and maintains a MAC address table (CAM table) that maps port numbers to MAC addresses, allowing it to forward frames only to the correct destination port.
Switches operate at OSI Layer 2 and dynamically learn MAC addresses by inspecting the source MAC address of incoming frames, recording which port each MAC address was received on. This CAM (Content Addressable Memory) table allows the switch to unicast frames directly to the port of the destination device rather than flooding all ports, improving network efficiency.
A hub is a Layer 1 device with no intelligence; it broadcasts every received frame out all ports and does not maintain any address table.
Routers operate at Layer 3 and use IP routing tables to forward packets between networks, not MAC address tables for port-level forwarding.
A repeater is a Layer 1 device that only regenerates the electrical signal to extend cable distance and has no awareness of MAC addresses or ports.
Concept tested: Switch MAC address table and selective frame forwarding
Source: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst4500/12-2/25ew/configuration/guide/conf/dynaddr.html
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