In networking, the communications protocol that contains the logical address of a client or server station. It is called the "network layer" and contains the address (IP, IPX, etc.) inspected by a router that forwards it through the network. Layer 3 contains a type field so that traffic can be prioritized and forwarded based on message type as well as network destination. Since layer 3 provides more filtering capabilities, it also adds more overhead than layer 2 processing. See layer 3 switch, router and OSI.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- RWmultitool 2 2.0.3 (Mac)
- Software architecture based on CoreImageTechnology. Intuitive and simple interface Vertical form factor to adapt to small size monitors and logically grouped functions. Compatible with most RapidWeaver themes RWmultitool will display a list of all images included in a theme and let you choose one for editing. No...
- Software downloads 2009-11-27
- RWmultitool 2 Lite 2.0.3 (Mac)
- Rwmultitool2 LITE is an abridged version of Rwmultitool2 Full version.Universal Application, based on Mac OSX CoreImage Software architecture based on CoreImageTechnology. Compatible with most RapidWeaver themes RWmultitool will display a list of all images included in a theme and let you choose one for editing. No other software required....
- Software downloads 2009-11-27
- Peak oil panic? Dubai or not Dubai?
- Harry, please ignore the deniersThey will try to quash any voice of reason. I believe they hope to maneuver themselves into a position where they can argue that they should not be affected by the consequences because they don't believe in man-made climate change. Pure selfishness.Keep it coming. We are...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-26
- Gateway DX4300-11
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.Gateway hasn't fared well with its most recent round of DX-series mainstream retail PCs. Neither the DX4300-03 nor the DX4822-01 received positive marks, and...
- Product reviews 2009-11-25
- Maingear Shift
- With its new Shift gaming desktop, Maingear joins the ranks of Alienware, Falcon Northwest, and Velocity Micro in providing its customers a distinctive-looking case you can't get anywhere else. And despite a misstep with the build and a questionable processor choice both of which should be easily remedied, we found...
- Product reviews 2009-11-25
- Asus Essentio CG5270-BP004
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores. The Asus Essentio CG5270-BP004 bears a striking resemblance to a young teenager trying too hard. With its oversized, canted case, it's easy to...
- Product reviews 2009-11-24
- Microsoft isn't the only one developing a hardware-accelerated browser
- It is a dumb idea.WAIT! Firefox and Chrome teams are looking to do the same?What a brilliant idea!I smell a large scale patent war brewingThis will be one that catches everybody's attention, not just the people who work in the industry.I'd bet that Office goes hardware-rendered, tooI'd bet that Office...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-24
- HP Pavilion P6230y
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.The $680 Pavilion P6230y is another midrange HP desktop PC that looks good on paper, but can't keep up with the competition in...
- Product reviews 2009-11-23
- Gateway One ZX4800-02
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.The good news about the Gateway One ZX4800-02: it's not a Nettop. Nope, instead this is a full-fledged, $750 all-in-one desktop, complete with a...
- Product reviews 2009-11-20
- Gateway DX4822-01
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.Although we weren't fans of Gateway's midrange Gateway DX4300-03, the $520 DX4822-01 makes a more convincing argument with budget-minded features like a spacious hard...
- Product reviews 2009-11-20
- Asus Essentio CM5570-AP003
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.The $480 Asus Essentio CM5570-AP003 is a stripped-down version of the CM5570-AP006 we reviewed in July. It uses the same basic tower but replaces...
- Product reviews 2009-11-20
- Apple iMac (21.5-inch, 3.06Hz Intel Core 2 Duo, Nvidia GeForce 9400M, Fall 2009)
- We awarded Apple an Editors' Choice for its new $1,699 iMac, largely because its 27-inch screen dwarfs its competition in that price range. So what to make of Apple's new lower-end iMac? At $1,199, its 21.5-inch screen is hardly the size leader for its price, and without a touch screen...
- Product reviews 2009-11-17
- Ubercaster 1.6.3 (Mac)
- Ubercaster is the first complete podcast production suite for the Mac. The days of overloaded and bulky recording environments are over. Ubercaster makes it easy for you to produce your podcast show in four simple steps. Each step has its own layer which bundles various functions in an easy to...
- Software downloads 2009-11-16
- Sony Vaio L117FX (Core 2 Quad Q8400s 2.66GHz, 6GB RAM, 1TB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium)
- Had Apple not introduced a 27-inch iMac for $1,699, we'd have fewer reservations about Sony asking $1,999 for its new 24-inch Vaio L117FX. Yes, HP's TouchSmart 600 expanded on some of Sony's innovations from its previous generation all-in-ones. Sony also doesn't even attempt to match HP's creative multitouch software. But...
- Product reviews 2009-11-13
- HP Pavilion Slimline s5220y
- HP's $480 Pavilion Slimline s5220y is another low-end slim tower PC that offers mediocre performance and equally unexciting performance packaged in a relatively boring case. Its small stature might tempt some of you to use it as a light-duty PC, or even a media-streaming box, but its out-of-date connectivity options...
- Product reviews 2009-11-12
- Dell Studio XPS 8000
- Dell's Studio XPS 8000 offers an attractive chassis and mostly up-to-date features. Its configurations start as low as $699, but our $1,329 review unit is a solid upper-midrange performance desktop that will play games and handle more demanding digital media tasks with little difficulty. For the very price-performance conscious, both...
- Product reviews 2009-11-10
- Counting vulnerabilities is pointless
- Suddenly it doesn't matter any more? Vulnerability count is an indication of software qualityIt goes directly to the process the vendor went through to root out vulnerabilities before shipping. At least if you compare products with the same general purpose and which receives the same amount of scrutiny.Time to fix...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-09
- Mandelbrot Explorer 3.0 (Windows)
- This Mandelbrot and Julia set explorer allows you to zoom into areas of the Mandelbrot Set and the family of Julia Sets. You can use the mouse for easy visual exploration, or you can fine-tune the areas you view using one of the Navigation Plug-ins. The images are displayed in...
- Software downloads 2009-11-09
- Chasys Draw IES 3.07 (Windows)
- Chasys Draw IES formerly Chasys Draw Artist is a suite of applications including a layer-based image editor with animation, vista-style icon editing support and super-resolution via image stacking Chasys Draw IES Artist, a multi-threaded image file converter Chasys Draw IES Converter and a fast image viewer Chasys Draw IES Viewer....
- Software downloads 2009-11-09
- Dell Inspiron i545s-1476N
- The $480 Inspiron 545s-1476 is the third Dell desktop we've reviewed with the company's current slim tower chassis, and we can't say our opinion has changed since the last time we saw it. We're still satisfied with its design, but we remain disappointed with the features Dell seems to have...
- Product reviews 2009-11-06
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