VLANs – A Layer-2 or Layer-3 Function?
By default, a switch will forward both broadcasts and multicasts out every
port but the originating port.
However, a switch can be logically segmented into multiple broadcast
domains, using Virtual LANs (or VLANs). VLANs are covered in
extensive detail in another guide.
Each VLAN represents a unique broadcast domain:
• Traffic between devices within the same VLAN is switched
(forwarded at Layer-2).
• Traffic between devices in different VLANs requires a Layer-3
device to communicate.
Broadcasts from one VLAN will not be forwarded to another VLAN. The
logical separation provided by VLANs is not a Layer-3 function. VLAN
tags are inserted into the Layer-2 header.
Thus, a switch that supports VLANs is not necessarily a Layer-3 switch.
However, a purely Layer-2 switch cannot route between VLANs.
Remember, though VLANs provide separation for Layer-3 broadcast
domains, they are still a Layer-2 function. A VLAN often has a one-to-one
relationship with an IP subnet, though this is not a requirement.
Layer-3 Switching
port but the originating port.
However, a switch can be logically segmented into multiple broadcast
domains, using Virtual LANs (or VLANs). VLANs are covered in
extensive detail in another guide.
Each VLAN represents a unique broadcast domain:
• Traffic between devices within the same VLAN is switched
(forwarded at Layer-2).
• Traffic between devices in different VLANs requires a Layer-3
device to communicate.
Broadcasts from one VLAN will not be forwarded to another VLAN. The
logical separation provided by VLANs is not a Layer-3 function. VLAN
tags are inserted into the Layer-2 header.
Thus, a switch that supports VLANs is not necessarily a Layer-3 switch.
However, a purely Layer-2 switch cannot route between VLANs.
Remember, though VLANs provide separation for Layer-3 broadcast
domains, they are still a Layer-2 function. A VLAN often has a one-to-one
relationship with an IP subnet, though this is not a requirement.
Layer-3 Switching
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