Local Network Communication

Layer 2 handles communication between devices on the same network segment. This is where MAC addresses, switches, and VLANs operate.

Key concepts:

• MAC addresses — unique hardware identifiers
• Switches — intelligent forwarding based on MAC tables
• VLANs — separate broadcast domains at Layer 2
• ARP — bridging IP addresses to MAC addresses

Troubleshooting at Layer 2

Device connected but can’t reach local network? Check the VLAN assignment and verify the MAC address appears in the switch table.