Level 3 switch in an all Level 2 switched network

[Yogeeraj_1]

Dear Experts!

*This might seem like a dumb question*

What could be the issues related to adding a Level 3 switch in a network that contains only level 2 switches?

Your views would be most appreciated.

Thanking you in advance


kind regards
Yogeeraj

[Mohammed Faiz]

Hi,

It depends on what you mean by "adding". If you don't have any Layer 3 config on the L3 switch then it will behave like a standard Layer 2 switch.
Somethings to watch out for might be the default spanning-tree settings on the L3 switch and the auto-negotiated port speeds on links to the L2 switches but those shouldn't cause you any serious issues.

[cenk sasmaztin]

biggest difference between L3 switch and L2 switch

is routing

samely OSI layer L2 mac layer L3 ip layer

L3 switch able routing dynamic or static

L2 switch unable routing