cut-through and fragment-free, how to...

Rick 504 posts since Nov 22, 2013

cut-through and fragment-free, how to remember? Jun 29, 2014 8:27 AM
I've gone through these switching methods a few times now in the last few months. But I can't remember
which one is which. Well. Cut-through is forwarding data as soon as it's received. And fragment-free is
looking at the first 64 bytes to see if there is an FCS error. If yes, discard, if not, forward. But after a few
weeks, I start to wonder which one is which again. Haha!

My 2nd question, how can I check which method a switch uses? Is there a command for that?

3rd question, does routers use different methods to forward data too? A router checks the destination IP
to choose a route to forward. But does a router do store-and-forward, cut-though, or fragment-free (check
enough bytes to get the destination IP in the IP header to forward the packet right away)?

Jacob 281 posts since Mar 15, 2011

Re: cut-through and fragment-free, how to remember? Jun 29, 2014 11:31 AM
Cut-through "cuts to the point". As soon as it see's a destination address its gone.

Fragment free waits for the collision window. First 64 bytes.

Not sure how to check what the method in use is, but it should be store and forward. I don't even know why
they teach these methods.

For the router, your scenario has it processing layer 3 info and at that point switching methods are N/A. I
guess you could say its related store and forward since the router stripes the frame away to look at the packet
header.

G-WIZ: There are multilayer switches that can route at layer 2 with CEF. As long as the routing table and arp
table are updated, they are cached in the FIB/adjacency tables at layer 2 to "route at hardware speeds"

Rolando 193 posts since Apr 13, 2011

Re: cut-through and fragment-free, how to remember? Jun 30, 2014 8:53 AM
in response to Jacob
"A picture is worth a thousand words"

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cut-through and fragment-free, how to...

To be honest I dont remember the command to see which mode the switch is using, but by default they uses
Cut-Through.
If you want to change it you need to uses the following command:

switch(config)#switching-mode [mode]

Hope this helps,

Best Regards.

Rolando Valenzuela.

Rick 504 posts since Nov 22, 2013

Re: cut-through and fragment-free, how to remember? Jun 30, 2014 11:09 AM
in response to Rolando
Hi Rolando, that picture helps

I tried the command on a C3550 with IOS 12.2(44)SE6. It doesn't have this command. I guess only certain
flavor of Cisco switches has this command.

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cut-through and fragment-free, how to...

Thanks.

Seth Ainsley CCNAx2 79 posts since Mar 4, 2014

Re: cut-through and fragment-free, how to remember? Jun 30, 2014 11:28 AM
Hi Rick,

The way I remember the difference between the two is a little odd, but it works for me.

View the frame as a long snake, the length of which is determined by the size of the packet.

In FF switching, the switch allows the snake to 'fully curl up' within the switch port before forwarding it on.

In cut-through switching, the switch 'cuts off the head of the snake' by not allowing it to all curl up within the
port first. The head = addressing information. Also helps me to remember because a snake with no head will
probably have more errors than a snake with a head.

Err....hopefully that helps?

HT(maybe)H,

Seth

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This document is Cisco Public Information.
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