What layer are "packets" on...

[thefranmanatt]

Whats your opinion?  Layer 2 or Layer 3 or both????

[Antonio Knox · Accepted solution]

Packets are on Layer 3

Frames are on Layer 2

Please rate if helpful.

[thefranmanatt]

That is the way I look at also but I hear and read all the time about people interchanging the term "packet" when talking about layer 2.  To the point I am having to check myself to make sure I am not crazy.

Here is an example

http://voip.about.com/od/glossary/g/PacketDef.htm

http://www.bolthole.com/solaris/networkpacket.html

" In the context of VLANs, the term "trunk" denotes a network link  carrying multiple VLANs, which are identified by labels (or "tags")  inserted into their packets." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_LAN

I even recall some some cisco documentations talking about packets on layer 2 (I don't remember the documents)

It is like some people use the term "ethernet packet" instead "ethernet frame" which isn't an "IP packet"

http://www.google.com/search?q=ethernet+packet&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

[Antonio Knox]

I can understand the confusion, but this is quite common in the world of Multi-layer Switching (MLS).  It is common to see routed packets on a switch, so the terminology kind of melded together.  Officially, though, it is as stated.

Please rate if helpful.