Switches connected to the core switch

Switches that connect directly to core switches are called distribution switches.In a hierarchical network design, the three-layer model consists of the access layer, distribution layer, and core layer. Access switches connect end-user devices like PCs, IP phones, and printers to the network. Core switches form the backbone of the network, handling high-speed traffic between distribution switches and ensuring fast data forwarding across the LAN . Distribution switches sit between the access and core layers. They aggregate traffic from multiple access switches and forward it to the core switches. In large networks, distribution switches also provide policy enforcement, routing, and redundancy, helping to prevent broadcast storms and reduce the number of direct connections required between access and core switches . In smaller networks, a collapsed core design may combine the distribution and core functions into a single layer, but in standard three-tier architectures, the switches connected to core switches are always referred to as distribution switches . These distribution switches are generally more powerful than access switches and may handle Layer 3 routing, VLAN aggregation, and high availability features. They ensure that traffic from multiple access switches is efficiently forwarded to the core layer, which then routes it to other parts of the network or to other distribution switches . In summary, any switch directly connected to a core switch in a hierarchical LAN is called a distribution switch, serving as the intermediary between the access layer and the core backbone.