Switching Database Manager.

The SDM manages layer 2 and layer 3 switching information.

It is maintained on the Ternary Content Addressable Memory, or TCAM.

The TCAM itself is used for forwarding lookups.

These lookups are done in hardware by the ACL engine.

It’s supposed to be fast compared to doing it in software.

The ACL engine determines how the switch will handle each packet by either permitting or denying.

Although the TCAM can provide a performance increase, there are limited amount of entries which can lead to resource contention and exhaustion.

CCNP Switch