Packet flow from client to mail server
1. The client computer requests a connection from 10.11.101.10 to 110.11.101.200.
2. The client computer issues an ARP request to 10.11.101.200.
3. The primary unit forwards the ARP request to the mail server.
4. The mail server responds with its MAC address (MAC_Server) which corresponds to its IP address of 10.11.101.200. The primary unit returns the ARP response to the client computer.
5. The client’s request packet reaches the primary unit internal interface.
| IP address | MAC address |
Source | 10.11.101.10 | MAC_Client |
Destination | 10.11.101.200 | MAC_Server |
6. The primary unit processes the packet.
7. The primary unit forwards the packet from its external interface to the mail server.
| IP address | MAC address |
Source | 10.11.101.10 | MAC_Client |
Destination | 10.11.101.200 | MAC_Server |
8. The primary unit continues to process packets in this way unless a failover occurs.