.png){kind=small}
There has been an 11.8% growth in the fiber optic cable manufacturing industry over the past five years. With this growth, most enterprises are now shifting to and adopting Layer 3 services. Layer 3 switches are valuable tools that increase network efficiency, especially when there are multiple subnets and VLANs. Read on to learn more about Layer 3 services.
What are Layer 3 services?
While these words are used a lot, most people do not understand what a Layer 3 switch or Layer 3 connectivity is. Other than that, why are they so important to the networks? Layer 3 connectivity is a step up from layer 2, which has limited connectivity. When it comes to connectivity, a layer 3 switch is comparable to a 2-in-1 switch and router. Therefore, you will notice that a Layer 3 switch is quite similar to a router, even in terms of design. In addition to appearance, the two also support similar routing protocols and modes of operation.
How it works
Layer 3 connectivity is about enhanced internal hardware components. These units combine the internal hardware of switches and routers to deliver enhanced network routing performance. However, unlike routers, these switches are designed for intranets. This means that they do not come with the wide area network features and ports that are included in standard routers.
Characteristics of layer 3 switches
Generally, a layer 2 switch will have the following characteristics:
- 24 Ethernet ports without wide area network interface
- Switching algorithm used for most simple routed protocols
- Can operate at OSI Layer 2 and Layer 3 layers
It is important to note that the Layer 3 switch functions as a switch that facilitates connectivity between devices on the same subnet.
Advantages of Layer 3 connectivity / switching
The main advantage of layer 3 switches is that they combine several functions and purposes in a single package. The benefits of Layer 3 switches are shown below:
- Eliminates network latency
- Facilitates routing between virtual LANs
- Lower transmission traffic volumes
- Separates routing tables and increases traffic segregation
- Simplifies the VLAN configuration process
- Simplifies troubleshooting and fault identification.
Layer 3 switches come with a wide range of benefits. They are a significant technological improvement that has made the world a better place by enabling high-speed Internet connections and a complete end-to-end experience. Contact us for more information.
