Hi Max,
A prefix-list is used primarily to match on routes that are being advertised by routing protocols.
An access-list is used for a number of things including:
- filtering actual traffic entering/leaving an interface
- filtering routes being advertised by routing protocols. The preferred way to do this nowadays is using prefix-lists
A distribute-list is used solely for filtering routes being advertised by routing protocols. Unlike access-lists and prefix-lists, which provide the matching criteria for routes, the distribute-list is just a mechanism to use an access-list or a prefix-list for received/advertised routes. That is, a distribute-list cannot exist in isolation - it has to use an access-list or a prefix-list to match the routes it is letting through.
Hope that helps - pls rate the post if it does.
Paresh
