What Is a Layer 3 Switch?
A Layer 3 switch is a specializedhardwaredevice used in connection routing.
Layer 3 switches technically have a lot in common with typical routers, and not only in physical appearance.
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The key difference between Layer 3 switches and routers lies in the hardware internals.
These switches are most commonly used to support routing between virtual LANs.
Layer 3 switches use this capability when managing traffic within a LAN.
They also expand on this traffic-handling process by usingIP addressinformation to make routing decisions when managing traffic between LANs.
By contrast, Layer 4 switches also factorTCPorUDPport numbers.
Routing parameters for each VLAN interface must also be specified.
Some Layer 3 switches implementDHCPsupport that can be used to automatically assign IP addresses to devices within aVLAN.
Alternatively, an outside DHCP server can be used, orstatic IP addressesconfigured separately.
Most home networks don’t use virtual LANs.
Challenges With Layer 3 Switches
Layer 3 switches cost more than ordinary switches but less than routers.
Configuring and administering these switches and VLANs also requires additional effort.
The applications of Layer 3 switches are limited to intranet environments with a sufficiently large scale of devicesubnetsand traffic.
Home networks usually have no use for these devices.
Lacking WAN functionality, Layer 3 switches are not a replacement for routers.
However, this theoretical model does not do well distinguishing practical differences between industry products.
The naming has caused much confusion in the marketplace.
