Enabling ARP Proxy

The Proxy ARP technique is used by a device on a given IP subnet to answer ARP queries for a network address that is not on that network.

The ARP Proxy is aware of the traffic destination, and offers another MAC address in reply. Serving as an ARP Proxy for another host effectively directs LAN traffic destination to the host. The captured traffic is then typically routed by the Proxy to the intended destination by using another interface, or by using a tunnel.

The process in which an ARP query request for a different IP address, for proxy purposes, results in the node responding with its own MAC address is sometimes referred to as publishing.

This page enables configuring the status of the ARP proxy feature. After it is enabled on this page, it is enabled on all of the IP interfaces.

To enable ARP Proxy on the switch:

  1. Click IP Configuration > ARP Proxy (Layer 3).
  2. The ARP Proxy (Layer 3) page opens.

  3. Select ARP Proxy to enable the switch to respond to ARP requests for remotely- located nodes with the switch MAC address.
  4. Click Apply. The ARP proxy is enabled, and the Running Configuration file is updated.