Port-Based Broadcast Packet Filter; Mac-Based Broadcast Packet Filter - D-Link DES-3624 Series User Manual

Stackable NWay Ethernet Switch User's Guide
Broadcast storms have long been a concern for network
administrators with routers traditionally being used to prevent
their occurrence, and if that failed, limit their scope. However,
switches are now able to limit broadcast domains better and
cheaper than routers. Also, many switches have broadcast
sensors and filters built into each port to further control
broadcast storms—such as the Switch you have purchased.

Port-based Broadcast Packet Filter

The Switch is equipped with sensors that count the number of
broadcast frames arriving at each port. When a certain level
(rising threshold) is reached, the sensors can initiate a
broadcast filter (rising action) which drops all broadcast
packets arriving at the affected port. This effectively partitions
the broadcast packets from the rest of the network, thereby
limiting the effects of a broadcast storm. The port-based
Broadcast Storm Filter settings can be set by the user. Please
refer to the Configure Ports section of this manual for more
detailed explanations regarding port-based Broadcast Storm
filter settings.

MAC-based Broadcast Packet Filter

Broadcast domains can also be managed on the MAC level. In
this case, broadcast domains can be defined to include specific
devices (MAC addresses). To do this, simply enter the MAC
addresses of the computers and peripherals you wish to
include in the broadcast domain(s). Any unknown or broadcast
packets generated within the Mac-based broadcast domain will
only be sent to the other members. Other parts of the network
are effectively shielded. Configuring MAC-based broadcast
domains is done in the VLANs and MAC-based Broadcast
Domains submenus of the Console or Web-based management
programs.
52 Switch Management Concepts