Configuring Layer3 Switch

To configure the Layer 3 switch, first enable IP routing by entering the ip routing command in global configuration mode.

The ip routing command is not required for some models.

Then, by configuring IP addresses on Layer 3 switches, VLANs (networks) are interconnected to enable communication between VLANs. The IP address configuration of a Layer 3 switch can be done in one of the following ways

  • Configuring SVI
  • Configuring routed port

Configuring SVI

The SVI is a virtual interface that connects the internal router to the VLAN. Configure an IP address for the SVI to connect the VLAN to the internal router. Enter the following command in global configuration mode.

Configuring SVI

(config)#interface vlan <vlan-id>
(config-if)#ip address <address> <subnetmask>

<vlan-id> : VLAN ID
<address> : IP address
<subnetmask> : subnetmask

Configuring routed port

A routed port is a port that is directly connected to an internal router. By configuring the port of the Layer 3 switch as a routed port and configuring the IP address, the Layer 3 switch will connect the network. The routed port configuration is as follows

Configuring routed port

(config)#interface <interface-name>
(config-if)#no switchport
(config-if)#ip address <address> <subnetmask>

<interface-name> : interface-name to be routed port
<address> : IP address
<subnetmask> : subnetmask

In both SVI and routed port configurations, when an IP address is configured and the interface becomes up, the Directly connected route information according to the IP address will be registered in the routing table.

Configuration example of Layer3 switch

In the network diagram shown in the following figure, configure SW1: SW1 Fa0/3 is configured as a routed port. Then, create SVIs on the internal router to interconnect VLAN10 and VLAN20.

Assume that the VLAN creation and access port assignment for SW1 are already configured.

Figure Configuration example of Layer 3 switch
Figure Configuration example of Layer 3 switch

SW1

ip routing
!
interface FastEthernet0/3
 no switchport
 ip address 10.1.1.6 255.255.255.252
!
interface Vlan10
 ip address 192.168.10.254 255.255.255.0
 no shutdown
!
interface Vlan20
 ip address 192.168.20.254 255.255.255.0
 no shutdown

With this configuration, the internal router, VLAN, and port of SW1 will be connected as follows

Figure Internal view of SW1 (SVI/routed port)

On SW1, the output of the show ip interface brief command and the show ip route command is displayed as shown below.

SW1

SW1#show ip interface brief 
Interface                  IP-Address      OK? Method Status                Protocol
FastEthernet0/1            unassigned      YES unset  up                    up      
FastEthernet0/2            unassigned      YES unset  up                    up      
FastEthernet0/3            10.1.1.6        YES manual up                    up      
- omitted -
Vlan10                     192.168.10.254  YES manual up                    up      
Vlan20                     192.168.20.254  YES manual up                    up     
SW1#show ip route 
- omitted -

Gateway of last resort is not set

C    192.168.10.0/24 is directly connected, Vlan10
C    192.168.20.0/24 is directly connected, Vlan20
     10.0.0.0/30 is subnetted, 1 subnets
C       10.1.1.4 is directly connected, FastEthernet0/3

VLAN(Virtual LAN)