Thanks for the enlightening explanation, Priscilla. I know experts like you in this group will not let some funny answers go, that would confuse the subject more...
thanks again Thanks also to others who answered... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Priscilla Oppenheimer" To: Sent: Friday, March 21, 2003 2:04 AM Subject: Re: Difference on L3 switching of Cat4500 and Cat6 [7:65832] > Robert Edmonds wrote: > > > > Actually, Multiprotocol Label Switch is MPLS. MLS is > > MultiLayer Switching. > > This refers to a switch that can do not noly what Kiran said > > about L3 > > switching, but can make forwarding decisions based on higher > > level > > protocols, such as tcp, udp, etc. > > Oh dear, this has really gotten funny. > > MLS is neither MPLS nor switching based on multiple OSI layers. > > MLS refers to a route/switch architecture in which the forwarding and > routing jobs (layers or modules) are assigned to two different pieces of > hardware. A router module learns how to reach destinations, handles the > first set of packets to a destination, and then tells a switching module how > to handle subsequent packets for that flow. Some high-end routers do this > (with VIPs, etc.) and some high-end switches can do it also, either with the > help of an outside router or by using built-in feature cards. > > MLS is often used to specifically refer to the architecture and features on > a Cat 5000 and 6000 that enable this division of tasks. There are three > components (or layers) to the MLS architecture on these switches: > > MLS Route Processor (MLS-RP) > MLS Switching Engine (MLS-SE) > Multilayer Switching Protocol (MLSP) > > The router part talks to the switching part using MLSP. This allows the > switching part to develop a cache that enables "shortcut switching" of > packets. > > That's just one way of handling the necessary tasks, however. > > Take the 8500 "switch" as an example of another way of handling the problem. > It can run the entire IOS and act just like a traditional router, only > faster. It has a Switch Route Processor that handles routing functions at > high speeds. Just to confuse matters, it behaves a little differently from > the Route Switch Processor available on other platforms. :-) > > Unfortunately, I don't know much about the Catalyst 4000, which was > mentioned in the original question. But from what I understand about it, > it's basically a router with switch ports. Its architecture is more like the > 8500. It runs most of IOS and can do routing protocols, including BGP, OSPF, > etc. It can forward packets at high speeds based on Layer 3 info or Layer 2 > info. It's a router on steroids, whereas a Cat 5000 or 6000 with MLS is a > switch that has been told how to forward packets that normally a router > would handle. > > Which method is better? Neither one, though they have their pluses and > minues. Really, you just have to realize that all these options came out > during the dot com craze when Cisco had thousands and thousands of employees > all working to solve the same problem, gobs of money to buy companies with > products that all sovled the same problem, etc. So in true Cisco style, you > can accomplish the exact same thing (fast forwarding of packets) in a bunch > of different ways. > > _______________________________ > > Priscilla Oppenheimer > www.troubleshootingnetworks.com > www.priscilla.com > > > > > > > > ""Kirankumar Patel"" wrote in message > > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Dear > > > > > > L3 switching is nothing but switch acting as a router. > > > > > > MLS -- Multiprotocol Label Switch -- Can enables routers to > > make > > forwarding > > > decisions based on short labels, thereby avoiding the complex > > > packet-by-packet look-ups used in conventional routing. > > > > > > With MLS, can run faster then ATM switch. > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > > Kiran > > > > > > > > > >From: "Neil Arlante" > > > >Reply-To: "Neil Arlante" > > > >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >Subject: Difference on L3 switching of Cat4500 and Cat6500? > > [7:65802] > > > >Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 02:56:26 GMT > > > > > > > >Hi group, > > > > > > > >What is the difference between L3 switching capabilities of > > 4500 and > > 6500? > > > >Catalyst 4500 docs mentioned it support L3 switching, but > > not MLS. What > > is > > > >the > > > >main difference between L3 switching of 4500 and MLS of 6500? > > > > > > > >TIA > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > > Cricket World Cup 2003 > > http://server1.msn.co.in/msnspecials/worldcup03/ > > > News, Views and Match Reports. Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=65980&t=65832 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
