L3 switch vs Router

Zebra · Created Oct 24, 2020 07:32:22

Hi there

Key Functionality	Routes across different subnets or VLANS on a campus LAN	Routes across different networks across WAN are communicated and Routed by a Router
MPLS and VPN Services	Does not support MPLS and VPN services	Router provides MPLS and VPN services like PPP etc.
Edge Technologies Support	Not supported.	NAT, firewalling, tunneling, IPSec
Size of Routing Table	Smaller Routing table compared to Router	Considerably bigger to support multiple Route entries.
Forwarding Decision	Forwarding is performed by specialized ASICs	Performed by Software
Interface Support	As general case L3 Switches support Ethernet ports (Copper and Fiber).	Support Ethernet ports (Fiber and Copper), SONT,OC-N, T1/T3 etc.
Throughout	High Throughput	Lower than Layer 3 Switches
Switching Capacity	High Switching Capacity	Lower than Layer 3 Switches

Key Difference Summary –

So let’s summarise, some key difference between Layer 3 Switch and Router –

Cost— Layer 3 switches are much more cost-effective than routers for delivering high-speed inter-VLAN routing. High-performance routers are typically much more expensive than Layer 3 switches.
Port density— Layer 3 switches, have much higher port count while Routers have a lower port density than Layer 3 Switches.
Flexibility— Layer 3 switches allow you to mix and match Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching, meaning you can configure a Layer 3 switch to operate as a normal Layer 2 switch or enable Layer 3 switching as required.
WAN technologies support – Layer 3 Switch is limited to usage over LAN environment where Inter VLAN routing can be performed, however, when it comes to working on WAN and edge technologies Layer 3 Switch lags behind.
The router is the front runner in such a scenario where WAN technologies such as Frame Relay or ATM need to be fostered.
Hardware/Software decision making – The key difference between Layer 3 switches and routers lies in the hardware technology used to making forwarding decision.in the case of Layer 3 Switch specialized ASICs are used for forwarding decision while in case of Routers generally, it’s the software logic which it uses.

chenhui · Created Oct 24, 2020 02:11:14

Hi,
L3 switch usually provides the basic routing performance while the router supports a better routing performance, and also more types of interfaces, such as ATM, POS, P2P and so on.
L3 switch supports a better packets switching in the same network.
L3 switch usually have more interfaces than the router does.
L3 switch is usually cheap than the same level router.

DDSN · Created Oct 24, 2020 01:16:59

Hi Herediano,
Please wait patiently. Our engineers are looking for answers to your questions.

chenhui · Created Oct 24, 2020 02:11:14

Hi,
L3 switch usually provides the basic routing performance while the router supports a better routing performance, and also more types of interfaces, such as ATM, POS, P2P and so on.
L3 switch supports a better packets switching in the same network.
L3 switch usually have more interfaces than the router does.
L3 switch is usually cheap than the same level router.

Zebra · Created Oct 24, 2020 07:32:22

Hi there

Key Functionality	Routes across different subnets or VLANS on a campus LAN	Routes across different networks across WAN are communicated and Routed by a Router
MPLS and VPN Services	Does not support MPLS and VPN services	Router provides MPLS and VPN services like PPP etc.
Edge Technologies Support	Not supported.	NAT, firewalling, tunneling, IPSec
Size of Routing Table	Smaller Routing table compared to Router	Considerably bigger to support multiple Route entries.
Forwarding Decision	Forwarding is performed by specialized ASICs	Performed by Software
Interface Support	As general case L3 Switches support Ethernet ports (Copper and Fiber).	Support Ethernet ports (Fiber and Copper), SONT,OC-N, T1/T3 etc.
Throughout	High Throughput	Lower than Layer 3 Switches
Switching Capacity	High Switching Capacity	Lower than Layer 3 Switches

Key Difference Summary –

So let’s summarise, some key difference between Layer 3 Switch and Router –

Cost— Layer 3 switches are much more cost-effective than routers for delivering high-speed inter-VLAN routing. High-performance routers are typically much more expensive than Layer 3 switches.
Port density— Layer 3 switches, have much higher port count while Routers have a lower port density than Layer 3 Switches.
Flexibility— Layer 3 switches allow you to mix and match Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching, meaning you can configure a Layer 3 switch to operate as a normal Layer 2 switch or enable Layer 3 switching as required.
WAN technologies support – Layer 3 Switch is limited to usage over LAN environment where Inter VLAN routing can be performed, however, when it comes to working on WAN and edge technologies Layer 3 Switch lags behind.
The router is the front runner in such a scenario where WAN technologies such as Frame Relay or ATM need to be fostered.
Hardware/Software decision making – The key difference between Layer 3 switches and routers lies in the hardware technology used to making forwarding decision.in the case of Layer 3 Switch specialized ASICs are used for forwarding decision while in case of Routers generally, it’s the software logic which it uses.

gisellecar · Created Oct 24, 2020 18:12:46

Great job!

ErickRodBej · Created Oct 26, 2020 20:52:33

I have this problem too

egleesc · Created Oct 27, 2020 22:46:42

Thank you for the information

DDSN · Created Feb 24, 2022 06:40:54

Both have their own use-cases and specifications. It depends on your use-case. For example,

1. If you are connecting an ISP directly to provide internet, then the router is the box you need to deploy.

2. If you need to build tunnels between your offices (connecting 2 offices over public internet securely ), then you need a router.

3. If you are a CE participating in MPLS configuration, then you need a router.

mauricio_piment · Created Feb 24, 2022 11:15:19

Good

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