Individual assignment

Lan Switching Wan Networks(LSWN)

Submitted by
Mohammad Uzair
TP021755

Lectrurer
Salmiah Amin

Intake Code
UC2F1007 ITNC
Question 1
a) Compare and contrast between the functionality, pros and cons of Layer 2 (bridging) and
Layer 3 (pure routing) LAN switches.

Answer:

Layer 2 switches and Layer 3 switch both forwards packets using the addresses.Layer 2 switch
forwards packets using mac address/Layer 2 address and Layer 3 switch forwards the packets using
layer 3 address which is IP address. Switch comes in layer two ie data link layer and router comes in
layer 3 i.e network layer. Layer 2 switch works on Layer 2 & it uses MAC address for operation so we
called it peer-to-peer whereas Layer 3 switch works on Layer 3 & it uses Socket (IP address & Port
Number) for operations that’s why we call it Process-to-Process.
Usually nodes communicate with each using switch now say there is a V-LAN configured in the
switch say there are four (ABCD) nodes connected to the switch. now say A B are in one V-LAN and C
D in one V-LAN now if A want to communicate with D using switch it is not possible here we need
router. Now if A sends a packet to D the packet goes to switch and then to router and comes back to the
switch and goes to D ,here the layer 3 switch comes into picture layer 3 switch acts like a router i.e
router in a switch now if A sends packet to D it is routed internally here we don’t need a router to
connect to the internet too