Shashi

• Apr 8th, 2006

 

Hello friend, Actually there is nothing difference between layer 3 switch and a router. remember that routers are also switches and so even also called as layer 3 switch. As we have layer 2 switches that forwards or filters frames, routers( or layer 3 switches) use logical addressing and provide what is called packet switching. Note the term packet switching which i said just now...if u have any doubts feel free to ask me..........my another email id is manja_friends@yahoo.co.inim still a fresher also ccna certified..i havent got any job bcoz of no experience.......... u also complete ur certification........ im still searching for jobs.take care........bye

payel

• Apr 14th, 2006

 

thanks ..i did CCNA too and hunting out for job nyways

 layer 3 switch is a multiport bridge with a router added in. Layer 3 switches are faster than routers, but they usually lack some of the advanced functionalities of routers.

A router is a device that routes the packets to their destination. It means that a router analyzes the Layer 3 destination address of every packet, and devises the best next hop for it. This process takes time, and hence every packet encounters some delay because of this.

In a Layer 3 switch, on the other hand, whenever a routing table searches for any specific destination, a cache entry is made in a fast memory. This cache entry contains the source-destination pair and next hop address. Once this cache entry is in place, the next packet with the same source and destination pair does not have to go through the entire process of searching the routing table. 

That's why it is called route once switch many. This way, a Layer 3 switch can route packets much faster than the router.

Having explained the mechanism of both a router and a Layer 3 switch, router has some advanced routing functionality, which Layer 3 switches lack. Layer 3 switches are primarily used in the LAN environment, where you need routing . Routers are used in the WAN environment. These days lots of people have started using layer 3 switches in WAN environment, like MPLS.

akhilesh kumar

• May 4th, 2006

 

what is the diffrence between layer 3 switch and r...

radhey

• May 5th, 2006

 

i am network administrator in WNS ltd. meerut.

once time in a doing a networking in windose xp, but it is give a massage 

again that "It is not accessbal" So plese give a solution.

thank

..................................................radhey

Igor

• May 12th, 2006

 

Layer 3 switch = layer 2 switch + router and all MAC-packets switched between to interfaces are not anylized on layer 3. There are a lot of applications when you use Layer 2 switch only on first step of project (for example 48 x 3 = 144 ports) . Later should be installed one layer 3 switch and all 192 (144 + new 48) will be routed on layer 3.  That's why it's faster.     

sandeep M jethwa

• May 19th, 2006

 

this is one and the same but some diffrences

sachin

• Aug 3rd, 2006

 

In 3 layer switch you can fix IP address on individual port no need to assign IP on individual computer .

Tanveer Ahmad

• Aug 28th, 2006

 

Generally, Layer 3 switches are faster than routers, but they usually lack some of the advanced functionalities of routers.

Specifically, a router is a device that routes the packets to their destination. What this means is that a router analyzes the Layer 3 destination address of every packet, and devises the best next hop for it. This process takes time, and hence every packet encounters some delay because of this.

In a Layer 3 switch, on the other hand, whenever a routing table searches for any specific destination, a cache entry is made in a fast memory. This cache entry contains the source-destination pair and next hop address. Once this cache entry is in place, the next packet with the same source and destination pair does not have to go through the entire process of searching the routing table. Next hop information is directly picked up from the cache. That's why it is called route once switch many. This way, a Layer 3 switch can route packets much faster than the router.

Having explained the mechanism of both a router and a Layer 3 switch, let me also tell you that router has some advanced routing functionality, which Layer 3 switches lack. Layer 3 switches are primarily used in the LAN environment, where you need routing. Routers are used in the WAN environment. These days lots of people have started using layer 3 switches in WAN environment, like MPLS.

ram

• Jan 12th, 2007

 

The difference between layer 3 switch and layer 2 switch is that , in layer 3 switch WAN acess is possible where as in layer 2 switch WAN acess is not possible

Rashi

• Feb 9th, 2007

 

Router routes with hardware and switches route with software........

kapil sharma

• Feb 17th, 2007

 

there is no big diffrence between layer3 and router ok layer 3 switch work on networking layer means that it support to understand the logical address but more other extar features of rotuter it doesn't support.means it doesn't underastand the broadcast domain,and collision domian. and there is very big defrence in hardware parts.

mahesh mathur

• Feb 17th, 2007

 

Hi, lets make it clear, A router support for WAN protocols like HDLC, but a layer 3 device does not support for such protocol and that is why we use it in LAN ........


https://mathurmahesh.co.nr

deven.pawar

 Profile Answers by deven.pawar Questions by deven.pawar

• Jul 18th, 2007

 

Is there any Facility of provideing both Standard and Extended Acess-lAcess list
in Layer3 switch.

M.Alam

• Nov 10th, 2007

 

A Layer3 switch can handle a network divided in multiple segments running on different subnets, as it can perform routing  too.

Whereas for such networks we need a Layer2 switch for inter-segment communication and a router for one segment to another segment   

chinmay_lp

 Profile Answers by chinmay_lp 

• Oct 13th, 2008

 

Router - Basically routers are use to connect different n/w's together.Routers  communicate between two or more  networks.

L3 Switch - L3 switches are just like L2 switches.but there is a differnece between these two types.L3 switches are used for Inter VALN communication.Whereas we have to use Router between L2 switches for Inter VLAN communication. 

We can't use L3 switch instid of Router.that is not possible.L3 switches are good but the cant connect different networks together like Router do.L3 switches are only used for Inter VLAN Communications..This is the main diff bet these two.So L3 switches cant replace Router.