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: • The OSI Data Link Layer • Introducing OpenStack • IPv6 Dynamic Address Allocation • Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Explained • OSI Network Model • Major Protocols in the TCP/IP Suite • Internet Security and VPN Network Design • IP Addressing and Subnetting • TCP/IP Features • Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP)
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