Cisco Switch: trigger mac-address table update

ciscointerfacelink-layermac addressswitch

If I run show mac-address-table dynamic I get a bunch of mac addresses on that table. But due to the aging parameter, I don't see the mac addresses of all possible devices on the network that come through that switch. Is there a way to force an update, perhaps pinging a broadcast IP or any other way, which would include all possible mac adresses?
One possibility I know is ping sweep, but that might take a long time (longer than 5 minutes of aging time) and I'd like to see if there is any alternative.

Best Answer

The switch only learns about MAC addresses when a device sends an Ethernet frame to it. So the only way to get the CAM table populated with all of the devices is to get all of the devices to talk.

however, I think you're over thinking the problem. if you just start with what is already there I bet you will get most, if not all, of your devices.