Naturally, the easiest way to solve this bottleneck problem on smaller networks is to perform the inter-VLAN routing on a Layer 3 switch instead. In larger enterprise environments this single interface is often bonded with one or more other interfaces in a LAG (Link Aggregation Group) which allows the use of multiple interfaces to avoid a bottleneck. This can be a problem because it can create a bottleneck which can overload the one interface if it’s not fast enough. If a device on one VLAN wants to talk to a device on another VLAN, that traffic must leave the switch and pass through the router which “routes” the traffic back to the switch, over the same interface, to the other VLAN. ROUTER-ON-A-STICK, also known as a “one-armed router” is a method for running multiple VLANs over a single connection in order to provide inter-VLAN routing without the need of a Layer 3 switch.Įssentially the router connects to a core switch with a single interface and acts as the relay point between networks. Here he explains the tradeoffs and virtues of router-on-a-stick. If you need more performance you don't have to do that on a switch.” “There is a balance one must find between performance, security, and price. The complainers might not recognize the security benefits of having a smart device like this “acting as a traffic cop between networks,” he says. “ I've heard grumbles in our industry about how the router-on-a-stick method should NEVER be used because performance is better on the switch,” he tells CE Pro. Both devices offer excellent local links, but the best option depends on the size of your network.Networking expert Bjørn Jensen of WhyReboot is tired of hearing integrators rail on the “router-on-a-stick” scheme for home networks. That said, if you need a high-speed local connection for numerous workstations, you should go with a Layer-3 switch. Are Layer-3 Switches or Routers Better?įor a small network with only a couple of user devices, a router should suit your needs. So, if you have a vast network, only a tiny fraction of users will get the total bandwidth of a wired connection. Routers have a lower port density when compared to Layer-3 switches, which means you’ll only have a few ethernet ports per router. In addition, most routers offer increased network security and allow for Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections. Routers are great for receiving and sending data over various connection types, including your Local Area Network (LAN). In addition to an ethernet internet connection, modern routers also offer wireless connectivity over multiple frequency bands like 2.4 and 5 GHz. Understanding RoutersĪ router connects a network to the internet by forwarding internet service from ISP’s modem to your local network. In addition, connectivity between network devices will only work over ethernet interfaces, so not all devices will work without a USB ethernet port adapter. Traditional switches have difficulty performing complex routing functions, especially in the wide-area network. Depending on the size of your network, routing between VLANs will cost much less than using a router. The network switch connects a large home or business network over a common network device. They communicate between local destination addresses much quicker than a dedicated router. Layer-3 switches improve network routing performance on large LAN networks. It should be noted that if you are worried about online gaming, read our guide to 5GHz Wi-Fi vs. A premium Layer-3 switch will even offer tens of broadcast domains for faster communication between devices. The Layer-3 switch typically works through a user’s mac-address, forwarding data along with the local network. Understanding Layer-3 SwitchesĪ Layer-3 switch is a device that sends data between large networks of computers and servers via ethernet ports. Make sure you need a Layer-3 switch because good models can get quite expensive.
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