Computer Network Switches
By Stephen Bucaro

A bridge or router may be referred to as a "switch" because it uses information in the
data packet to choose a path from one network segment to another. A bridge may be referred to
as a "layer 2 switch" because it uses information from layer 2, the Data Link layer of
the OSI model. A router may be referred to as a "layer 3 switch" because it uses information
from layer 3, the Network layer of the OSI model. A network device that uses a higher layer of
the OSI model may be referred to as a "layer 4 switch", and so on.
More Networking Protocols and Standards: • Major Protocols in the TCP/IP Suite • Wireless Standards - 802.11a 802.11b 802.11g 802.11n 802.11i Explained • WAN Network Protocols - DSL, SONET, HDLC, DWDM, DLSW+ • Representation of IPv6 Addresses • NTP Server Systems - The Network Time Protocol • Video - Introducing the OSI Model • Basic TCP/IP Networking • IPv6 Packet Fragmentation • The OSI Session Layer • IPv4 Address Classes
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