IBM 9077 manual Disadvantages

2 5

Router

Unswitched Data Switched Data

1

3

Router

4

Router

Disadvantages:

Shared data paths

All processing done on Layer 3

Slow softwarebased processing

Layer 3

Layer 2

	Router		Router
	Process		Process
	......Packets		......
			Packets
.........	....	............	....	.....

Figure 8. Conventional Routers

The SP Switch Router provides near wire-speed packet forwarding while using standard routing protocols. This ensures interoperability with other network technologies and does not require a specific network architecture, such as ATM. It works equally well in large and small networks. At each hop where a routing switch is used, routes are processed at Layer 3 but the packet is forwarded at Layer 2 (see Figure 9 on page 15). In the case of the SP Router, the route processing is done through hardware, so all processing is done at near-wire speed.

14IBM 9077 SP Switch Router: Get Connected to the SP Switch