What is another common name for a 'Layer 3 switch'?

A Layer 3 switch is commonly referred to as a multilayer switch. This terminology is used because these devices can perform both Layer 2 (data link layer) functions, such as switching within a local area network (LAN), and Layer 3 (network layer) functions, which involve routing between different networks.

The capability to make intelligent forwarding decisions based on IP addresses, alongside the standard Ethernet switching features, allows a multilayer switch to handle complex networking tasks efficiently. This dual capability is fundamental to modern network design, where both LAN switching and routing capabilities may be required under one device to improve performance and simplify network architecture.

While terms like ‘smart switch’ and ‘managed switch’ relate to switches with advanced features for traffic management and monitoring, they do not specifically denote the Layer 3 functionality of routing IP packets. The term ‘core switch’ typically refers to switches that handle high-capacity data transfers in the core of a network but does not inherently imply that it has Layer 3 capabilities. Thus, multilayer switch is the most accurate alternative name for a Layer 3 switch.