This function allows the device to filter out packets with invalid MAC addresses or IP addresses. The device checks the validity of an ARP packet based on each or any combination of the following items:
Source MAC address: The device compares the source MAC address in an ARP packet with that in the Ethernet frame header. If they are the same, the packet is valid. If they are different, the device discards the packet.
Destination MAC address: The device compares the destination MAC address in an ARP packet with that in the Ethernet frame header. If they are the same, the packet is valid. If they are different, the device discards the packet.
IP address: The device checks the source and destination IP addresses in an ARP packet. If the source or destination IP address is all 0s, all 1s, or a multicast IP address, the device discards the packet as an invalid packet. The device checks both the source and destination IP addresses in an ARP Reply packet but checks only the source IP address in an ARP Request packet.