>A true router, 2621/3640/7200, is not usually considered >a L3 switch. A 6500 with an MSFC module installed can be >is a L3 switch and will perform L2/L3 routing and switching. > >A 6500 without the MSFC module is just a large high speed switch, >capable of only L2 switching. > >A layer 3 switch usually routes the first packet in the flow of data >and then switches the rest in the switching hardware. This is why L3 >routing/switching is quite a bit faster. A traditional router will use >IOS software to determine routes and the switch each packet between the >interfaces in the router.
This is a legitimate argument for process and fast switching,perhaps for central flow switching, and marginally for optimum switching. I would argue it no longer holds in any form of distributed switching. VIPs, 12000 forwarders, etc. are not IOS software engines. > > >Larry Letterman >Cisco Systems >[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- "What Problem are you trying to solve?" ***send Cisco questions to the list, so all can benefit -- not directly to me*** ******************************************************************************** Howard C. Berkowitz [EMAIL PROTECTED] Chief Technology Officer, GettLab/Gett Communications http://www.gettlabs.com Technical Director, CertificationZone.com http://www.certificationzone.com "retired" Certified Cisco Systems Instructor (CID) #93005 Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=38390&t=38358 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
