Illustration of how a layer-3 Switch works

For example, simply using a vro, because of the limited number of interfaces and slow route forwarding speed, in general, in a network with a large volume of intranet data streams and requiring fast forwarding and response, for example, all three-layer switches are used for this work.

As we all know, a router can connect to an enterprise LAN or a wide area network (such as the Internet), but it ignores another application of a router, that is, its LAN connection function. For details about the WAN connection of a router, see the topology diagram and the router connection diagram of a layer-3 switch.

The role of a vro varies depending on the vro type. Generally, a vro refers to a VBR that is located at the boundaries of different types of networks, as shown in the topology and the router connection diagram of the layer-3 switch. Another type of router is designed not to connect different types of networks, but to connect different local networks or subnets in the same LAN. This is an intermediate node router ".

Shows its network structure. Compared with the router connection diagram of a layer-3 switch, it uses an intermediate node router to replace the original layer-3 switch.

<The "virtual border router" is at the edge or end of the network border and is used to connect different network routers. This is also the type of most routers currently. As described above, the Internet Access Router and the VPN Router to be introduced later belong to the border router. This type of router supports a wide range of network protocols and routing protocols, with extremely high backboard bandwidth and high throughput capabilities to achieve interconnection between different types of networks, including LAN and WAN.

The "intermediate node Router" is located inside the LAN, which is usually used to connect different LAN and serve as a bridge for data forwarding. The intermediate node router pays more attention to the memory performance of the MAC address and requires a large cache. Because the connected network is basically a LAN, the network protocols supported are relatively simple, and the backboard bandwidth is also small, all of which are to achieve the highest cost effectiveness and adapt to the general enterprise's accompanying capabilities.

Compared with the routing function of a layer-3 switch, the routing function is certainly better than that of a layer-3 switch, but in a network with frequent LAN data exchange, using an intermediate node router for LAN connection may affect the network performance.

• Differences between traditional vswitches
• Details about how a vswitch works
• How to select and configure the MAC address of a vswitch
• Details about the association between a layer-3 Switch and a vro
• Introduction to the working process of a layer-3 Switch

In general, if the LAN or subnet to be connected is large, network mutual access is not frequent, and the routing is complicated, it is best to use the intermediate node router connection scheme. However, it is best to use a layer-3 Switch Connection Mode in a few scenarios where subnet connections and frequent intercommunication between networks. In addition, it can save equipment investment, because layer-3 switches not only provide routing functions to meet application requirements, but also can be used as switches to connect many network devices.

VPN application of vswitch

Many switch equipment manufacturers are now providing vswitches that support VPN communication, among which 3COM's tunnel Switch VPN solution is the most typical and most powerful. Shows its network structure.