[c-nsp] Layer 3 Switch operation

[Arie Vayner (avayner)]

Sam,

This is actually very simple:

In L3 mode, the switch is actually a router, so the host would be
sending the packet to an IP address on a different subnet, with the L3
switch's MAC address as destination.

In L2 mode, both the destination IP and MAC address would not belong to
the switch.

So all it has to do is to check the destination MAC address.

Arie 

-----Original Message-----
From: cisco-nsp-bounces at puck.nether.net
[mailto:cisco-nsp-bounces at puck.nether.net] On Behalf Of Sam Jacob
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 10:00 AM
To: cisco-nsp at puck.nether.net
Subject: [c-nsp] Layer 3 Switch operation

Hi All,


I have a question on the operation of  layer3   switches.

Since Layer 3 switches can do Layer 2 also , How will a Layer 3 Switch
know it has to do a Layer-2 or Layer 3 forwarding when an Ethernet frame
comes in.

Regards,

Sam Jacob

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