Network switch

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They connect physically multiple devices in a network. Switches are a smarter and widely used alternative to Hubs.

It handles delivery of packets while ensuring that they are received in the right order, and are not corrupted.

➡️ See also the VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP) and Spanning Tree Protocol (STP).

Switches can operate at

  • Layer 2 (MAC)
  • Layer 3 (MAC and IP address)

Layer 3 switches can operate partially like a router, and do routing.