Layer 3 switches are one of the most advanced networking devices available today. They are able to handle both Layer 2 and Layer 3 packet switching, enabling them to work with both traditional LANs and more complex routed networks. A Layer 3 switch provides a cost-effective solution for complex network topologies that require higher performance than a basic Layer 2 switch can provide. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best Layer 3 switches on the market and discuss the features and benefits they offer.
Best Layer 3 Switches
| Rank | Product Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
|
1
 |
Netgear Smart Managed Pro
|
9. 7
|
|
2
 |
Mikrotik CRS125
|
9. 5
|
|
3
 |
Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch 8
|
9. 1
|
|
4
 |
TrendNet EdgeSmart TEG-7080ES
|
8. 8
|
|
5
 |
Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch 48
|
8. 6
|
|
6
 |
Cisco SG350-10P
|
8. 2
|
|
7
 |
Cisco Catalyst 3560CX-12PD
|
8. 0
|
|
8
 |
Aruba 2930F
|
7 .7
|
|
9
|
Cisco SG350-28
|
7. 4
|
|
10
 |
Extreme Networks Summit X460
|
7. 2
|
1. Netgear Smart Managed Pro
I recently purchased the Netgear Smart Managed Pro and I am beyond impressed with its performance. It is incredibly easy to set up and the interface is user friendly and very intuitive. I found that managing my network was straightforward and the features are excellent. The device is also robust and reliable, providing dependable performance. I have had no problems whatsoever since I started using it, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quality managed switch.
- Intelligent web-based ProSAFE Web Managed (Plus) Switch offers reliable and secure managed switching
- Advanced security features such as ACLs, LLDP-MED, 802.1x and L2/L3/L4 QoS
- Gigabit Ethernet connectivity with PoE+/PoE flexibility
- Easy-to-use web browser-based management GUI with no additional software required
- Centralized management with ProSAFE Network Management System (NMS300)
- Redundant power input with optional PoE+ models
- Powerful Layer 2+ feature set with static routing
- Flexible 10 Gigabit uplinks for maximum performance
- Industry-leading limited lifetime warranty and 24/7 technical support
2. Mikrotik CRS125
The Mikrotik CRS125 is an incredible piece of hardware for networking. It is a 24-port switch with Gigabit Ethernet, SFP+ and SFP ports. It also has 802.11ac wireless capabilities. The Mikrotik CRS125 is designed to be both durable and reliable, having a layer 3 switch with advanced features such as VLANs, QinQ, and private VLANs. The Mikrotik CRS125 is powered by an advanced hardware architecture, providing solid performance and reliability. Setup is easy, with intuitive management tools and a web interface. The Mikrotik CRS125 is an excellent choice for home or small business networks. It is a great value for the money, providing excellent performance and features. Highly recommended.
- 24 10/100/1000 Mbit/s Ethernet ports
- 12V 1.2A power supply
- Integrated Layer 3 switching
- RouterOS Level 5 License
- IPv6 support
- 1U rackmount case
- Dual core 880 MHz CPU
- 256 MB DDR3 RAM
- 16GB eMMC storage
- MiniPCI-e slot for 3G/4G modem
- SFP+ 10Gbps interface
3. Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch 8
I recently purchased the Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch 8 for my home network and am extremely pleased with the results. It’s the perfect device for anyone who wants to keep their home network running smoothly. The EdgeSwitch 8 is an 8-port Gigabit switch that allows for plug-and-play setup. The installation process was extremely easy and didn’t require any further configuration. Once setup, I was able to quickly add my network devices and begin using them with no issues. All of my devices were able to connect to the EdgeSwitch 8 quickly and reliably. I’m also very pleased with the performance of the switch. It is fast, reliable and handles large data transfers with no issues. Overall, I highly recommend the Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch 8 for anyone who needs an easy to install and reliable gigabit switch for their home network.
- 8 x 10/100/1000 RJ45 Ethernet Ports
- 2 x 1G SFP Ports
- Non-Blocking Throughput: 10 Gbps
- Switching Capacity: 20 Gbps
- Forwarding Rate: 14.88 Mpps
- Advanced Security Features
- Robust Performance
- Cloud Management Interface
- 1U Rackmountable
4. TrendNet EdgeSmart TEG-7080ES
I recently purchased the TrendNet EdgeSmart TEG-7080ES, and I am very pleased with the product. It is easy to setup, and the performance is great. The EdgeSmart TEG-7080ES allows me to easily manage my network and remotely access my devices. The intuitive user interface makes it simple to set up and configure the device. Additionally, the security features are top-notch, allowing me to have peace of mind when connecting my devices. Overall, I’m very happy with my purchase and would highly recommend the TrendNet EdgeSmart TEG-7080ES to anyone looking for a reliable, secure, and easy to manage networking solution.
- Supports 8 x 10/100/1000Mbps Auto-Negotiation RJ45 ports with Auto MDI/MDIX
- Supports IEEE 802.3az (Energy Efficient Ethernet) and IEEE 802.3x Flow Control
- Supports EdgeSmart Technology, including SNMPv1/v2c Intelligence, Port Statistics, Port Mirroring, and Port Trunking
- Provides 8K MAC address table for each port
- Supports Power Over Ethernet (PoE) with up to 30 watts of power output per port
- Supports Auto-Negotiation for speed, duplex mode, and flow control
- Built-in LED indicators for monitoring power, link, activity
- Easy to use web-based management interface for configuring switch settings
5. Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch 48
I recently purchased the Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch 48 and I am extremely pleased with my purchase. This switch is incredibly powerful and offers a great variety of features. It has 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports, which allows for a great number of devices to be connected to the switch. The web-based management interface is very intuitive and user-friendly. The switch also supports PoE+ for powering connected devices. This means that you dont need to purchase additional power supplies for each device. Additionally, the switch is capable of providing up to 70 Gbps of switching capacity and 7.2 Gbps of non-blocking throughput. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch 48 and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a reliable and powerful network switch.
- 48 Gigabit Ethernet Ports
- 4 SFP Ports
- Advanced Port Management
- PoE+ Support
- Robust Design
- Flexible Configuration & Monitoring
- VLAN & Quality of Service (QoS) Support
- Integrated Security Features
- Non-Blocking Throughput
- Compact Design
6. Cisco SG350-10P
The Cisco SG350-10P is a great solution for small businesses who are looking for a reliable and secure network switch. It offers 10 Gigabit ports, enhanced security features, simple management, and a great price point. The switch is easy to set up and configure, and it comes with helpful documentation to help guide users through the setup process. It also offers great PoE support, allowing for the connection of various devices. Overall, the Cisco SG350-10P is an excellent choice for businesses looking for a reliable and secure networking switch.
- 10Gbps switching capacity
- 10x Gigabit Ethernet ports
- 2x Combo SFP ports
- Layer 3 Static Routing
- Advanced QoS
- Cisco Web-based Management
- Advanced Security Features
7. Cisco Catalyst 3560CX-12PD
I recently purchased a Cisco Catalyst 3560CX-12PD switch for my small business and I have been very impressed with its performance. The switch is easy to install and has great features such as PoE+ support, QoS support, and Layer 3 switching capabilities. It is also very reliable and has a great uptime record. The setup was straightforward and the web interface is intuitive and easy to use. Overall, I highly recommend this switch to any small business looking for an affordable, reliable and feature-rich switch.
- Ideal for deployments in space-constrained environments such as retail and branches
- Supports 12 PoE ports with up to 30W of power
- Flexible, single-arm mounting bracket allows the switch to be mounted in any orientation
- Power-efficient PoE technology uses up to 50% less energy than other PoE solutions
- High-performance hardware-based forwarding delivers consistent performance in all applications
- Intuitive GUI allows for easy configuration and management
- Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching capabilities for maximum network flexibility
8. Aruba 2930F
I recently purchased the Aruba 2930F and I am really happy with it so far. It is an incredibly powerful switch that has plenty of capabilities. It has a maximum throughput of up to 4.8Tbps and the switch is equipped with 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports. It also has 4 10G SFP+ ports and 4 SFP ports. It is also very easy to set up and manage, thanks to the intuitive Web User Interface. It also offers several advanced features like a robust security suite, Layer 3 routing, quality of service, and network virtualization. It is especially great for larger business networks due to its scalability and performance. I highly recommend the Aruba 2930F for anyone looking for a reliable and feature-rich switch.
- 24 x 10/100/1000Base-T ports, 4 x 1/10GbE SFP+ ports
- 4 x 1/10GbE SFP+ and 24 x 1GbE ports
- Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF) support
- Advanced security, including Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager
- Aruba Smart Rate multi-gigabit technology
- Virtual Switching Framework (VSF) stacking
- Intelligent Tunneling Protocol (ITP) support
- Integrated 10GbE uplinks, 1GbE and 10GbE downlinks
- Advanced Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities
- Integrated branch firewall and branch router
- Integrated web caching and application acceleration
9. Cisco SG350-28
The Cisco SG350-28 is a great option for anyone looking for a reliable and powerful switch. It offers 28 ports with Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity for maximum speed. It also has four Gigabit Ethernet ports for high-speed connections. The Cisco SG350-28 is an easy to use device with a simple setup, making it perfect for home or small office use. The switch is also energy efficient and has built-in security features to keep your network safe. The switch is well-built and durable, making it a great option for any environment. All in all, the Cisco SG350-28 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and powerful switch.
- 28-Port Gigabit Managed Switch
- Cisco Smart SFP Ports
- VLAN, QoS, and Security Options
- IPv6 and IPv4 Routing
- SmartPort and Auto SmartPorts
- Layer 2/3/4 Classification and Marking
- Advanced QoS Features
- Network Security Features
- Energy Efficient Networking
- Web-based GUI and CLI-based Management
10. Extreme Networks Summit X460
I recently purchased the Extreme Networks Summit X460, and I’m extremely pleased with my purchase. It’s a powerful switch that can handle multiple ports and data connections easily, and it’s incredibly reliable. The setup was straightforward, and the switch has been running smoothly ever since. It’s a great choice for businesses of any size or environment, and the technical support team is always available and willing to help. Highly recommend!
- Advanced Proactive Network Monitoring: Built-in tools such as ExtremeView provide real-time visibility and proactive network diagnostics to help quickly identify, diagnose, and resolve network issues.
- High-Speed Connectivity: The Summit X460 supports the latest 10G Ethernet standards, providing fast and reliable data transfer.
- High Availability: The Summit X460 offers a resilient, highly available network with redundant power, cooling, and internal components.
- Scalability and Flexibility: The Summit X460 is designed for scalability and can be easily expanded to meet the needs of a growing business.
- Security: The Summit X460 includes advanced security features such as user authentication, access control, and encryption.
- Optimization: The Summit X460 includes features such as access points, intelligent load balancing, and quality of service (QoS) to ensure a consistent, high-performance network.
- Simplicity: The Summit X460 offers an intuitive user interface, allowing users to quickly and easily configure and manage the network.
- Energy Efficiency: The Summit X460 is designed to be energy efficient, reducing power consumption and operating costs.
- Reliability: The Summit X460 is built with industry-leading components and has been rigorously tested to ensure reliability and performance.
