Which of the following VSX components maintain Layer 3 Connectivity?

Question

Options

• AExternal Virtual Switch
• BVirtual System in Bridge Moe
• CVLAN Interface
• DInternal Virtual Switch
• EVirtual Router

• B
  4% (2)
• C
  4% (2)
• D
  2% (1)
• E
  90% (43)

Explanation

Virtual Router (E) is the only VSX component that operates at Layer 3 (the Network Layer). It maintains IP routing tables, participates in dynamic routing protocols, and forwards traffic based on IP addresses - making it the component responsible for Layer 3 connectivity between networks.

The distractors are wrong for these reasons:

• A & D (External/Internal Virtual Switch): Both operate at Layer 2, forwarding traffic based on MAC addresses with no IP routing capability.
• B (Virtual System in Bridge Mode): Bridge Mode causes a Virtual System to behave like a transparent Layer 2 bridge, bypassing Layer 3 functions entirely.
• C (VLAN Interface): A VLAN interface provides logical network segmentation but is a Layer 2 construct on its own - it requires attachment to a routing component (like a Virtual Router) to gain Layer 3 functionality.

Memory tip: The name is the hint - Routers route, Switches switch. On the OSI model, routing = Layer 3 and switching = Layer 2. In VSX, only the Virtual Router carries the "route" function, so it's the only one that can maintain Layer 3 connectivity independently.

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