level3 switches typically don't have the full capabilities of a router.
level3 switches typically have more bandwidth per $$$ than routers.
some modular level3 switches can be configured as routers.
some routers are hybrid switches and routers, and offer limited features
at the port level.
the difference is largely in tradeoffs between invesetment in a hardware
datapath that can be pre-configured to switch packets as configured by
the software, and the ability of the hardware/software to handle
realtime (i.e. wirespeed) routing decisions and intervention.
Beyond that it's a question of whether you have etherswitches where it
would be convenient for them to do a bit of routing, and whether it's
cheaper or "better" in your environment to do it with a level3 switch
or a paired switch and router.
George
> From: "jakasemboeng" <jakasemboeng@ekilat.com>
> To: <sthaug@nethelp.no>
> Cc: <cisco-nsp@puck.nether.net>
> Subject: RE: [nsp] l3 switches and router
> Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 13:07:56 +0700
> In-Reply-To: <6673.997076517@verdi.nethelp.no>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: sthaug@nethelp.no [mailto:sthaug@nethelp.no]
> > Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 12:42 PM
> > To: cwhyte@microsoft.com
> > Cc: jakasemboeng@ekilat.com; cisco-nsp@puck.nether.net;
> > KWortendyke@Timebridge.com
> > Subject: RE: [nsp] l3 switches and router
> >
> >
> > > Simply put, there is no real, quantifiable
> > > difference. But, more importantly, it's a product tag that's completely
> > > meaningless when evaluating a piece of equipment for your network. It
> > > gets people to focus on the wrong thing.
> >
> > For another take on this, look at how the 6509 switch in the NEBS chassis
> > becomes the 7600 router :-)
> so....in your opinion there's no significant different between l3 switches
> and router....or have any idea ?
>
> thanx
>
> jaka
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