Which address or combination of addresses does a Layer 3 switch use to make forwarding decisions?
A Layer 3 switch uses the Layer 3 addresses, also known as network layer or IP addresses, to make forwarding decisions.
These addresses are used to uniquely identify devices on a network and determine the best path for forwarding packets.
When a packet arrives at the Layer 3 switch, it examines the destination IP address of the packet and refers to its routing table. The routing table contains a list of network addresses and their corresponding outgoing interfaces. The Layer 3 switch then matches the destination IP address to the entries in the routing table to determine the appropriate outgoing interface for the packet.
The Layer 3 switch may also consider other factors such as the subnet mask, default gateway, and routing protocols (like OSPF or BGP) to determine the most efficient routing path. Additionally, some Layer 3 switches can perform additional functions such as access control lists (ACLs), policy-based routing, or network address translation (NAT) to further enhance their forwarding decisions.
Overall, the Layer 3 switch relies on the Layer 3 addresses and routing information to make forwarding decisions in order to efficiently route packets within a network.
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