What actions can a switch perform on a received frame?

The actions a switch can perform on a received frame primarily involve managing how it processes and routes network traffic. The correct choice includes the capabilities of a switch to forward, flood, or drop frames.

When a switch receives a frame, it first examines the destination MAC address. If the address matches an entry in the MAC address table, the switch can forward the frame to the specific port associated with that address. This efficient method of directing traffic helps reduce overall network congestion.

Flooding occurs when the switch does not have an entry for the destination MAC address in its address table. In this case, the switch will send the frame out of all ports except the one it was received on, ensuring that the frame reaches its destination even though the switch does not have specific knowledge of where that destination is located.

Dropping a frame happens when the switch determines that it cannot or should not forward the frame, which can occur in various scenarios such as receiving a frame with a destination MAC address that is not valid or is part of a loop. This action is essential for maintaining network efficiency and integrity.

These three actions – forward, flood, and drop – outline the fundamental operational tactics available to switches in handling frames as they traverse the network. The other choices suggest actions that