From: kris.keen@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wed Jun 05 2002 - 03:29:10 GMT-3
KD,
I 'd say thats a fairly good grasp of it all. L3 switches are simply L2
switches which have the added benefit of being able to route packets at
layer 3/4. Basically most of them are just routers inside switches that use
the same or similar backplane...these L3 switches usually dont have ports
physically, but use the Switch port VLAN's.
We use our 6509 L3 switch for WAN also, so its sort of in the LAN/MAN/WAN
category as it does the lot (ours holds a full route table)
Routers will connect disimilar media yes, switches have high port density
yes in addition to some being modular in that they can accept different
media types just like Routers.
All the go lately is L3 switches!
Good grasp on it nonetheless
Cheers
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kris Keen - CCDA, CCNP, CNE
Network Support Specialist - Network Systems
Aon Risk Services Australia Limited
(612) 9253 7272
0404862970
E: Kris.Keen@aon.com.au
"Kumar Dasari"
<kdgroup@plts.gt To: <ccielab@groupstudy.com>
ulink.edu> cc:
Sent by: bcc:
nobody@groupstud Subject: A router and Layer3 Swi
tch
y.com
05/06/2002 03:51
PM
Please respond
to "Kumar
Dasari"
Hi folks:
I am trying to get this straight in my head. What actually is the
difference
between a router and a layer switch? Reading from trade magazines and such
this is what I thought.
1. Routers tend to have interfaces from unlike media (so, are actually
doing
protocol translation also?) while the layer 3 switches tend to have higher
port density but primarily with like media (may be FastE to GigE at the
most).
2. Routers tend to switch packets between the interfaces but still CPU
based
processing is involved thus are software based where as l3 switches use
Asics
for switching between the interfaces so are hardware based.
3. Routers for WAN and Layer 3 Switches for LAN/MAN
4.Routers tend to package enhanced services like security and Qos and such
while the L3 switches are optimized to low latency packet switching
engines.
May be I was somewhat redundant, but that is what I would have said if
somebody asked me the same question. Am I thinking right here? Please
comment.
Because lot of products on the market today seem to defy this and, I am
thoroughly confused.
KD
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