In VRRP, what does the term "VMAC" stand for?

In the context of VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol), "VMAC" stands for Virtual MAC Address. This is a critical component within VRRP as it allows multiple routers (or virtual routers) to share a single IP address while presenting a consistent MAC address to the devices on the local network.

When a master router is elected within a VRRP group, it assumes the responsibility for forwarding packets sent to the shared virtual IP address, and the Virtual MAC Address is used for this purpose. The back-up routers remain in a standby state, ready to take over if the master becomes unavailable. This mechanism ensures seamless failover and increases network reliability because devices do not need to be reconfigured with a different MAC address in the event of a router failure.

The other terms provided—Vulnerable MAC Address, Varied MAC Address, and Virtualized MAC Address—do not accurately describe the functionality or purpose related to VRRP. Thus, recognizing the term "VMAC" as Virtual MAC Address is essential for understanding how VRRP achieves high availability and redundancy in network architectures.