Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:
According to the Forescout Switch Plugin Configuration Guide Version 8.12 and the Switch Properties documentation, the Switch IP/FQDN and Port Name property is used to identify an endpoint's connection location. The documentation explicitly states:
"The Switch IP/FQDN and Port Name property contains either the IP address or the fully qualified domain name of the switch and the port name (the physical connection point on that switch) to which the endpoint is connected."
Switch IP/FQDN and Port Name Property:
This property is fundamental for identifying where an endpoint is physically connected on the network. According to the documentation:
Purpose: Provides the exact physical location of an endpoint on the network by identifying:
Switch IP Address or FQDN - Which switch the endpoint is connected to
Port Name - Which specific port on that switch the endpoint uses
Example: A property value might look like:
10.10.1.50:Port Fa0/15 (IP address and port name)
core-switch.example.com:GigabitEthernet0/1/1 (FQDN and port name)
Use Cases for Location Identification:
According to the Switch Plugin Configuration Guide:
Physical Topology Mapping - Administrators can see exactly where each endpoint connects to the network
Port-Based Policies - Create policies that apply actions based on specific switch ports
Troubleshooting - Quickly locate endpoints by their switch port connection
Inventory Tracking - Maintain accurate records of device locations and connections
Switch Location vs. Switch IP/FQDN and Port Name:
According to the documentation:
Property
Purpose
Switch Location
The switch location based on the switch MIB (Management Information Base) - geographic location of the switch itself
Switch IP/FQDN and Port Name
The specific switch and port where an endpoint is connected - physical connection point
Switch Port Alias
The alias/description of the port (if configured on the switch)
The key difference: Switch Location identifies where the switch itself is located, while Switch IP/FQDN and Port Name identifies the specific connection point where the endpoint is attached.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
A. Switch Location - Identifies the location of the switch device itself (from MIB), not the endpoint's connection point
B. Switch Port Alias - This is an alternate name for a port (like "Conference Room Port"), not the connection location information
D. Switch Port Action - This indicates what action was performed on a port, not where the endpoint is located
E. Wireless SSID - This is a Wireless Plugin property, not a Switch Plugin property; identifies wireless network name, not switch connection location
Switch Properties for Endpoint Location:
According to the complete Switch Properties documentation:
The Switch Plugin provides these location-related properties:
Switch IP/FQDN - The switch to which the endpoint connects
Switch IP/FQDN and Port Name - The complete location (switch and port)
Switch Port Name - The specific port on the switch
Switch Port Alias - Alternate port name
Only Switch IP/FQDN and Port Name provides the complete endpoint connection location information in a single property.
Referenced Documentation:
Forescout CounterACT Switch Plugin Configuration Guide Version 8.12
Switch Properties documentation
Viewing Switch Information in the All Hosts Pane
About the Switch Plugin
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