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 Network Layer
• Unicast, Multicast, Broadcast. What Does It Mean?
• IPv4 Address Classes
• The OSI Presentation Layer
• OSI Transport Layer
• What Are Private IP Addresses?
• Free eBook: Introduction to 802.11 Wireless
• Kerberos Authentication Protocol
• IPv6 Unicast Addresses
• DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
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