Switch Block

Switch Block
The switch block is a combination of layer 2 switches and layer 3 routers. The layer 2 switches
connect users in the wiring closet into the access layer and provide 10Mbps or 100Mbps dedicated
connections; 2950 Catalyst switches can be used in the switch block.
From here, the access layer switches connect into one or more distribution layer switches,
which will be the central connection point for all switches coming from the wiring closets.
The distribution layer device is either a switch with an external router or a multilayer
switch. The distribution layer switch then provides layer 3 routing functions, if needed.
The distribution layer router prevents broadcast storms that could happen on an access layer
switch from propagating throughout the entire internetwork. The broadcast storm would be
isolated to only the access layer switch in which the problem exists.