Operation Manual – ARP
H3C S5500-EI Series Ethernet Switches
Chapter 1 ARP Configuration
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Chapter 1 ARP Configuration
When configuring ARP, go to these sections for information you are interested in:
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ARP Overview
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Configuring ARP
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Configuring Gratuitous ARP
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Displaying and Maintaining ARP
1.1 ARP Overview
1.1.1 ARP Function
Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is used to resolve an IP address into a data link
layer address.
An IP address is the address of a host at the network layer. To send a network layer
packet to a destination host, the device must know the data link layer address (such as
the MAC address) of the destination host. To this end, the IP address must be resolved
into the corresponding data link layer address.
Note:
Unless otherwise stated, the data link layer addresses that appear in this chapter refer
to the 48-bit Ethernet MAC addresses.
1.1.2 ARP Message Format
Figure 1-1
ARP message format