[nflug] Router vs Layer 3 switch

[Darin Perusich]

A layer 3 switch is a router and much cheaper then an actual router. I
have a 24 port 3com SS 4924 1Gb switch as the backbone "router" of my
network with the individual network segments broken up using VLAN's.
This has been in production for 3 years now and I'm very pleased with
it. The only thing I'd change looking back at things is I would have
gone with a Cisco Layer3 switch instead of the 3com. About once or twice
a year I run into some unexplained networking issues which requires that
I reboot the switch. Maybe 3Com's fixed this by now but I don't know, we
had an existing 3com infrastructure so I stuck with them.

Do your DHCP on a dedicated server where you can run ISC, you can
forward all the traffic across network segments from the Layer3 switch
just fine, it's what I do.

Richard Hubbard wrote:
> I'm in a situation where "Theoritical" vs "Reality" is about to hit
> home.
> 
> I have a network of over 300 computers, all on the same subnet.  I
> need to break it up.
> 
> The traditional method is some kind of router.  Which is fine, but
> when you ask Cisco about routers that can handle 1Gb, all the
> employees at Cisco start shopping for boats.
> 
> It has been pointed out to me, that what I am looking for is a Layer
> 3 switch.  Which I have never actually touched before.  So, is there
> anyone here that has worked with layer 3 switches?  Which brand?
> 
> What I would like...
> 
> Web front end, ability to configure subnets. DHCP server capability 
> 1Gb/sec speed 16-24 ports. Inexpensive.  If I wanted expensive, I'd
> buy a bunch of Cisco boxen.
> 
> What I don't need, yet, Router-router communications. However, due to
> the size of the network, I can imagine eventually requiring RIP. I
> don't think that should be too hard (most $50 household size boxes
> have RIP)
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> <span style="font-family:comic sans ms;">Richard Hubbard </span> ATTO
> Technology Inc
> 
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
Darin Perusich
Unix Systems Administrator
Cognigen Corporation
395 Youngs Rd.
Williamsville, NY 14221
Phone: 716-633-3463
Email: darinper at cognigencorp.com