Sitting at the top of the hierarchical model, core switches interconnect distribution layer switches and provide high-speed data transfer across network segments. Unlike access or distribution switches, a core switch is optimized for Layer 3 performance, modular. A core switch is a high-capacity, high-performance Layer 3 switch positioned at the physical backbone of an enterprise network. Why do we need a network router?Layer 2-only switches require an external L3 routing device to provide communication between VLANs as they don't have L3 routing functionality i., they don't forward data to destination based on L3 attributes like destination IP address. Many Cisco Meraki switches have L3 routing capability. Currently, at each location, we have our ISP router connected to a little unmanaged switch, which then is connected to 2 security appliances (for simplicity sake, think of them as firewalls; the 2 act as primary and secondary in case the primary fails), before then connecting from the firewalls to. Layer 3 interfaces forward packets to another device using static or dynamic routing protocols.
[PDF Version]