What is the fundamental distinction between a Layer 2 switch and a router

Answer 1

The fundamental distinction between a Layer 2 switch and a router lies in their functionality and the layer of the networking model at which they operate.

A Layer 2 switch operates at the Data Link Layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model. Its primary function is to forward data packets between devices within a local area network (LAN) based on the Media Access Control (MAC) addresses in the packet headers. Switches use MAC address tables to keep track of which devices are connected to which switch ports and make forwarding decisions based on this information. They are typically used to create and manage Ethernet LANs.

On the other hand, a router operates at the Network Layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model. Its primary function is to route data packets between different networks or subnets based on the IP addresses in the packet headers. Routers maintain routing tables that contain information about various networks and make decisions on where to forward the packets based on these tables. They are responsible for connecting multiple LANs or connecting LANs to the internet, allowing communication between different networks.

In summary, a Layer 2 switch operates based on MAC addresses within a single LAN, while a router operates based on IP addresses to connect different networks.