Using a Switch and P2P transfers (Very bad MS Paint inside)

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

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If for example, setup is like this...

eLhdSLR.png

(My art degree is in the post)

If a file is sent from Computer A to Computer B, does the transfer go:

Computer A> Switch> Router> Switch> Computer B

Or does it go:

Computer A> Switch> Computer B?

Hope that makes sense.

I know switches are not "Dumb" but not sure how smart they are either.

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Computer A> Switch> Computer B

Unless the computers are on different subnets (and the switch is not level 3) it will go via the router/gateway :)
 
As above, but to give you a little more description - the switch knows all the MAC addresses of the devices plugged into it, so when Computer A sends a packet addressed to Computer B, the switch looks up B in its routing table and knows it can just send it straight out to B without any extra steps.
 
joeyjojo said:
As above, but to give you a little more description - the switch knows all the MAC addresses of the devices plugged into it, so when Computer A sends a packet addressed to Computer B, the switch looks up B in its routing table and knows it can just send it straight out to B without any extra steps.
Click to expand...

The switch doesn't have a routing table, it has a mac table.
 
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