Terminology (Layer N Switching - Unofficial) Cont.

Layer N Switch = System Forwards IP packets from one input port to

another output port in Hardware (ASIC-based) based on

Layer N information and Special Forwarding mechanism if needed.

(From Internet)

Application Switching

(Layer 7 Switching)

IN (HTTP)

IP packet forwarding via spliced TCP

& queues in ASIC-based hardware

ASIC-based Switch Frabric

Switch Controller

(HTTP-enabled TCP

Splicing & Queuing

Decision)

(To Servers)

OUT (HTTP)

IP packet