Describe the differences between a Layer 2 switch and a Layer 3 switch.

  • Layer 2 switches operate at the Data Link layer and forward packets based on MAC addresses.
  • Layer 2 switches support VLANs, while Layer 3 switches support routing protocols such as OSPF.
  • Layer 3 switches offer more advanced features like QoS and ACLs compared to Layer 2 switches.
  • Layer 3 switches operate at the Network layer and make routing decisions based on IP addresses.
Layer 2 switches primarily focus on MAC address forwarding within the same subnet, while Layer 3 switches can route traffic between different subnets using IP addresses. This fundamental distinction impacts their capabilities and how they function within a network architecture.
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