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DES-3326S Layer 3 Fast Ethernet Switch User’s Guide
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and improve the utilization of the network’s installed
bandwidth.
The Functions of a Layer 3 Switch
Traditional routers, once the core components of large
networks, became an obstacle to the migration toward next-
generation networks. Attempts to make software-based
routers forward packets more quickly were inadequate.
A layer 3 switch does everything to a packet that a traditional
router does:
• Determines forwarding path based on Layer 3
information
• Validates the integrity of the Layer 3 header via
checksum
• Verifies packet expiration and updates accordingly
• Processes and responds to any optional information
• Updates forwarding statistics in the Management
Information Base
A Layer 3 switch can be placed anywhere within a network core
or backbone, easily and cost-effectively replacing the
traditional collapsed backbone router. The DES-3326S Layer 3
switch communicates with a WAN router using a standard
Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port. Multiple DES-3326S switches
can be linked via the optional, 2-port Gigabit Ethernet module.