The Main Difference Between Layer 2 And Layer 3 Switches Is That Layer 2 Switches Only Operate At The Data Link Layer (Layer 2) Of The OSI Model,
While Layer 3 Switches Operate At Both The Data Link Layer And The Network Layer (Layer 3) Of The OSI Model.
Layer 2 Switches Forward Data Frames Based On The MAC Addresses Of The Source And Destination Devices. They Do Not Look At The IP Addresses Of The Devices.
Layer 3 Switches, On The Other Hand, Forward Data Packets Based On The IP Addresses Of The Source And Destination Devices. They Can Also Route Traffic Between Different Networks.
Advantages Of Layer 2 Switches:
Less Expensive
Easier To Configure
More Widely Available
Disadvantages Of Layer 2 Switches:
Not As Scalable As Layer 3 Switches
Cannot Route Traffic Between Different Networks
Advantages Of Layer 3 Switches:
More Scalable
Can Route Traffic Between Different Networks
More Secure
Disadvantages Of Layer 3 Switches:
More Expensive
More Complex To Configure
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