ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) response proxy method and apparatus

The invention provides an ARP response proxy method and apparatus. The method includes the steps of receiving an ARP request message sent by a host; parsing message information of the ARP request message if the situation that a switch and a control device are disconnected is detected; determining that whether the message information is matched with table item information pre-stored in the switch, of a flow table item or not; if so, obtaining a destination MAC (Media Access Control) address; sending an ARP response message to the host according to the destination MAC address. By means of the ARP response proxy method and apparatus, the switch can reply the ARP response message as a proxy of the control device when the switch and the control device are disconnected so as to avoid the aging of the ARP table item of the host to further ensure the normal communication between hosts.