The way a switch learns Ethernet (MAC) addresses is by inspecting the Ethernet frame and recording the source MAC address in a dynamic table. The switch will also associate a learned MAC address with a port. It can then make intelligent forwarding decisions based on the destination MAC address. This white paper illustrates the process. 

This whitepaper discusses the issues involved in sharing files between Macs and Windows servers and compares the options for successful integration. It is intended for systems administrators, technical evaluators and decision-makers who are considering upgrading or purchasing a Mac/Windows integration solution. 

Check out this data sheet for a categorized listing of 600 common applications for which Blue Coat PacketShaper delivers an accurate picture of network traffic. 

This article presents an overview of the various Ethernet 10/100/1000 physical layer technologies for the copper medium. It discusses the pros and cons of active versus passive tapping and why active tapping is preferred for Gigabit Ethernet running over the copper medium. The switch-over behavior of active relay-based tapping is also presented. 

This paper discusses how you can leverage existing Abend-AID capabilities to simplify problem resolution even in these increasingly complex systems. Read this paper to learn more about diagnosing DB2 and WebSphere MQ problems with Compuware Abend-AID. 

This comprehensive, 94 page guide is a how-to resource handbook for network engineers. This guide covers the fundamentals of how applications work, how applications flow, where applications fail and best practices and methodologies for troubleshooting network and application problems. 

Common problems with interdepartmental handling of customer issues include a mismatch of priorities, no shared understanding of customer impact, and overall communication problems between teams. The solution is to create enterprise-wide workflow and visibility.. 

Blended threats are spam stealth attacks, moving undetected through your mail servers—blending in with all the other email—until they strike. They can compromise personal or corporate data, "recruit" computers into a network of bots, or initiate keystroke recording that collects passwords and other information. 

In this white paper, we examine how to use Wireshark, the world's most popular open-source network analyzer, to troubleshoot some of the top causes of poor network performance, including high latency, packet loss, inefficient window sizes, intercepting devices, and application dependencies. 

This white paper explores how to troubleshoot common application errors, including crashes and functionality failures, for greater application performance and an optimized end-user experience. 

Troubleshooting is a necessary evil. Where does one start when the operating system does not start, the application does not load or run correctly, the network hangs or a network service does not listen or perform? Linux is noted for being rock solid, stable, and easy to manage but not as user friendly. 

Check out this webcast, which discusses the problem of flat budgets, rising costs, and competing priorities, and explains how automating core network services has proven to be a helpful solution.