What does a Layer 2 switch do when it receives a frame with an unknown destination MAC?
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Correct answer: The Layer 2 switch floods packets to all ports except the receiving port in the given VLAN..
Why this is the answer
When a Layer 2 switch receives a frame with a destination MAC address not present in its MAC address table, it floods the frame out of all ports within the same VLAN, except the port on which it was received. This flooding ensures the frame reaches the intended recipient if it exists on the local network segment. The switch then learns the source MAC address of the device that replies, updating its MAC address table. It does not forward the packet (Layer 3 term) or send it to the CPU for learning; learning happens by inspecting source MACs. Dropping the frame would prevent communication with unknown destinations.
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