# Multi-Layer Switching and Tunneling

DevFeed: [Multi-Layer Switching and Tunneling](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/multi-layer-switching-and-tunneling-11183.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.ipspace.net/2025/05/multi-layer-switching-tunneling/>)

Published: 2025-05-30T06:20:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [ipSpace.net blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/ipspace-net-blog.md>)

Topics: [networking](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/networking.md>), [Routing (disambiguation)](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/routing.md>), [MPLS-TE](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/mpls-te.md>), [BGP](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/bgp.md>), [Ethernet](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ethernet.md>), [Protocol (disambiguation)](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/protocol.md>)

Tags: [bgp](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/bgp.md>), [ethernet](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ethernet.md>), [mpls](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mpls.md>), [mpls-te](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mpls-te.md>), [networking](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/networking.md>), [networking-fundamentals](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/networking-fundamentals.md>), [protocol](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/protocol.md>), [router](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/router.md>), [routing](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/routing.md>), [switching](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/switching.md>)

## AI overview

The article explains multi-layer switching, where edge devices forward traffic at a higher networking layer while core devices forward it at a lower layer. It describes IP forwarding over bridged Ethernet and virtual-circuit-like approaches using MPLS, MPLS-TE, BGP, and segment routing.

## Source excerpt

When deep-diving into the confusing terminology of switching, routing, and bridging, I mentioned you could perform packet forwarding at different layers of a networking stack. In this blog post, we'll explore what happens when we combine packet forwarding on multiple layers within a single network, resulting in multi-layer switching, where edge devices perform Layer n forwarding (usually Layer 3), and core devices perform Layer n-1 forwarding (typically Layer 2). Each layer can use any forwarding paradigm you choose. However, since we generally use IP at Layer 3, edge devices typically perform hop-by-hop destination-based forwarding, while core devices can use alternative methods. Read more ...