MAC Address Table (CAM Table)
A switch MAC table maps MAC addresses to ports for forwarding decisions.
Updated: 2026-03-05
Definition
Switches learn source MAC addresses and store them with the incoming port in the MAC address table.
This enables efficient forwarding of unicast frames to the correct port.
Key points
- Learned dynamically from traffic
- Aging timers remove old entries
- Flooding happens when destination is unknown
Common mistakes
- Assuming unknown unicast flooding is 'normal' in all cases (it can indicate issues).
- MAC table instability due to loops or flapping links.
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