Advanced Networking Administrator Test Prep

Answer: D - In a router, packet switching takes place using a microprocessor and a Layer 3 switch performs this using application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) hardware.

Key Takeaway: A layer 3 switch is a high-performance device for network routing. Layer 3 switches actually differ very little from routers. A Layer 3 switch supports almost all the routing protocols that a router does. Both inspect incoming packets and make dynamic routing decisions based upon the source and destination addresses inside. Layer 3 switches were conceived to improve the performance of routers used in LANs. The key difference between Layer 3 switches and routers lies in the hardware technology used to build the unit. The hardware inside a Layer 3 switch merges that of traditional switches and routers, replacing some of a router's software logic with hardware to offer better performance in some situations. Layer 3 switches often cost less than traditional routers.