MAC Address Table - Static assignment use cases

Static MAC address assignments in the MAC address table are rarely used in production networks. However, there are specific scenarios where they can be beneficial:

  • Security: Manually assigning MAC addresses to specific ports can help prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to the network. However, port security is generally a better solution.
  • Persistent Connectivity: Static MAC addresses ensure that a device retains its connectivity even after a switch reboots, as dynamic entries are removed upon reboot.
  • MAC Flooding: While port security is effective against MAC flooding attacks, static MAC address entries can serve as an additional security layer.
  • Troubleshooting: Manually setting a MAC address can be useful in isolating issues or testing network behaviors during troubleshooting.

Despite these use cases, static MAC address assignments are rarely implemented in production environments.

https://networklessons.com/switching/static-mac-address-table-entry