The problem with this whole discussion is that it focuses around hardware that has been defined as something by the manufacturers, and does not focus on function.
In the end, it is software - code - that does what it does, and the hardware it runs on is irrelevant. The OSI model is just a way of looking at things. Even Cisco says as much. OSI is not a hard and fast rule about how thing have to work. If an action is taken based on the IP header info, it is L3. If action is taken based on ethernet header info, it is L2. How that action is coded, where that code resides, is irrelevant. JMHO -- TANSTAAFL "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch" ""aletoledo"" wrote in message news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > a "layer three switch" is a router, just as a "switch" is really a bridge. a > layer 3 switch 'routes' in hardware, while a router routes in software. > > thats the easiest way to look at them. it has gaps, but once you get the big > picture you can then start to talk about the specifics. > > probably the biggest thing that a layer 3 switch can't do (unless its > changed recently) is route anything but IP. while designing the hardware > routing circuits for a L3-switch they had to compromise and IP being the > most popular won out. thats not to say that one day they won't have made > enough chipsets to route every other kind of protocol also. I suppose since > we saw the death of bridges due to switches, we'll also see the death of > routers to L3-switch. > > scott > > ""nanda"" wrote in message > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Hi ... > > > > We have switches that operate at Layer 3..right.. > > My Question is when we have Routers that are good enough why do we need > > switches at layer3? > > Under what circumtances do we use switches instead of routers? > > > > Hope I made Myself Clear...Thanks in Advance!!! > > > > Regards... > > Nanda Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=65255&t=65215 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
