Broadcast Forwarding on the GS116Ev2

Hi train_wreck,

I apologize for the delay for I have inquired your concern to a higher tier of NETGEAR Support.  Here is the information I got about Broadcast Forwarding.  Kindly read below:

To support the ProSAFE Plus Utility software (using the NETGEAR Switch Discovery Protocol), the ProSAFE Plus switch processes all broadcast packets with its embedded micro-processor.  In a default configuration all broadcast packets are forwarded by software using the micro-processor. In the event of a high volume of broadcast packets in the network, more than the micro-processor can handle, these plus model switches (GS116Ev2, JGS516PE, JGS524PE, and JGS524Ev2) can start dropping the broadcast packets.

The broadcast forwarding feature was added, to allow the hardware to control the broadcast packets in place of the micro-processor. When the hardware is controlling the broadcast packets, using the Broadcast forwarding feature, the switch will change to hardware forwarding mode, no longer using the micro-processor to process the broadcast packets. This is done on a temporary basis if the incoming broadcast rate reaches a certain threshold. Unfortunately, the side effect is that the plus switch will no longer respond to the ProSAFE Plus Utility while operating in hardware forwarding mode. In this mode the switch can only be accessed and managed via the web GUI.

What are the different methods of Broadcast Forwarding?

1. Hardware Method:    Select this method if your network application uses a high rate of broadcast frames for transmission. However, DHCP Client and Plus Utility will no longer be supported when this method is selected.

2. Software Method:     This method is needed for DHCP Client and Plus Utility functionality to work on the switch. However, broadcast frames will be discarded if the rate is higher than the software can handle.

3. Dynamic Method:      Select this method if you want the device to switch automatically between software and hardware method for broadcast forwarding based on the rate of broadcast frames. This is the default setting.

Note: Selecting the Hardware or Software method will take effect immediately, meaning in hardware mode the switch will not respond to the ProSAFE plus utility as soon as the hardware setting is applied. For Dynamic method, it will use Software forwarding first, then change the forwarding method to Hardware should the threshold be met.

Regards,

DaneA

NETGEAR Community Team