Layer 3 switches include hardware and software to inspect Layer 3 information (IP addresses) and maintain routing tables, allowing them to route traffic between separate IP subnets or VLANs via Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs). A Layer 2 switch cannot perform this routing; it can only forward frames within a single subnet based on MAC addresses. Functions such as MAC learning, VLAN tagging, and basic frame forwarding are common to both types of switches.
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Cisco CCNA 200-301
Network Fundamentals
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