9033693-01 18
distributed infrastructure and a logical management
structure, network performance becomes easier to
measure and fine-tune.
With the completion of the migration of the backbone to
Gigabit or higher-performance technologies, the result
is inherently scalable and easily evolved for future
technologies.
This core network will also become the termination
point for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for remote
office access to the enterprise infrastructure.
The VH-2402-L3 can then be thought of as
accomplishing two objectives. First as a tool to provide
high-performance access to enterprise data servers
and infrastructure, and second, to enhance the
performance of network equipment already installed.
Many network segments display poor performance, but
the Ethernet wire is only carrying a fraction of its total
traffic capacity. The problem is not the network, but
the ability of the connected devices utilize the full
capacity of the network. The VH-2402-L3 can
eliminate network bottlenecks to high-traffic areas, and
improve the utilization of the network’s installed
bandwidth.
The Functions of a Layer 3 Switch Traditional routers, once the core components of large
networks, became an obstacle to the migration toward
next-generation networks. Attempts to make software-
based routers forward packets more quickly were
inadequate.
A layer 3 switch does everything to a packet that a
traditional router does:
• Determines forwarding path based on Layer 3
information