Uplink and downlink terminology

[trickylalit]

  SW1(Main Switch)- SW2-Sw3

It is probably a basic questions but wanted to get clear about.

Would it be right to say to say that SW2 has 1 uplink and 1 downlink. SW1 has only 1 downlink and SW 3 has 1 uplink

Searching ,mostly article talk about uplinks so wanted to make sure if I am using correct terminology.

Thank you.

[Mark Malone · Accepted solution]

Hi yes that's right an uplink port usually means a port used that connects toward the break out switches of the network like the core or the L3 switches , a downlink would be the reverse heading back towards the access layer

Traditionally networks were set as access-dist-core layers or else collapsed cores of just access and core , that's where the  terminology comes in , anything heading to the core is uplink anything going the other way back to access from core is downlink

[trickylalit]

Thank you Mark for clarifying.

[Joseph W. Doherty]

BTW, often uplink ports use fiber, and as some small switches might have a few fiber capable ports, these are often called uplink ports, but other than common usage of those ports, other than fiber capability, there might not be anything "special" about those ports, but even if there is, those ports can often be used for hosts too.  Conversely, "ordinary" edge ports might be use for uplinks or downlinks (especially if using copper connections).

[trickylalit]

Thank you Joseph for additional information.