11-18-2014 03:04 PM - edited 03-05-2019 12:11 AM
Hi experts,
The question is if a L3 switch is able to receive a WAN link which is Ethernet, at the same way than a router?
11-18-2014 04:44 PM
It can, but the most common issue with doing this is that only the really high-end L3 switches support NAT. So, unless you plan to run everything on the switch with public addressing, that limitation is likely going to be a problem.
11-19-2014 06:16 AM
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To add to what Jody has already posted, L3 switches often lack features commonly found on routers. Often such features are WAN related. Jody mentioned one common WAN feature, NAT, but they might also lack certain hardware resources, such as sufficient capacity to take one or more full Internet route tables.
Even when running across MetroE clouds, often LAN L3 switches are still a bit "weak", for such usage, which is why Cisco has a series of MetroE switches.
The forgoing doesn't mean you cannot use a LAN L3 switch, just you need to be careful matching what the switch can do with your WAN feature needs.
11-19-2014 07:34 PM
Thanks to all, appreciate your comments :D
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