During frame forwarding, what does a switch check first in Cut-Through Switching?

In Cut-Through Switching, the switch begins forwarding a frame as soon as it reads the destination MAC address of the incoming Ethernet frame. This method allows for lower latency compared to other switching methods, like Store-and-Forward, where the switch waits for the entire frame to be received and checked for errors before forwarding. By starting the forwarding process with the destination MAC address, the switch quickly determines where to send the frame, enabling faster transmission through the network.

This approach is particularly advantageous in environments where speed is crucial, as it minimizes the time frames spend in the switching process. It's essential for the switch to identify the correct output port based on the destination MAC address to ensure efficient data delivery, highlighting the importance of this specific operation in Cut-Through Switching.