In the previous articles, I mentioned that different Catalyst switches perform routing functions in different ways. Before asking why all Catalyst switches don’t use the same techniques, it’s worth noting that different methods evolve over time, and some cost more to implement that others. In some cases, companies may simply wish to add routing capabilities to an existing investment, such as a Catalyst 5000. In others, the company might need the fastest routing performance possible across a campus network. In both cases, a realistic analysis of needs along with budget considerations will dictate the best solution. The next articles in this series outline three different methods commonly used to integrate routing capabilities with different Catalyst switches.