So, many switches are layer 2, but layer 3 switches are often referred to as switching routers. This can cause two different switches to act differently from each other in certain network environments. It isn't that one switch "doesn't work" but that it isn't a router.
A router is nominally a L3 device, though most actually are L1-7. To work, you need L1 & L2, but in today's world, there are applications and interfaces that move the router across L1-7, though not to the same depth as purpose built application devices for example. Topping this off, some routers will switch and some will not. It's the same wide-world of words that we see across the whole computer industry.
The OSI model differs from the TCP model of networking, even though both use numbered layers.
1. physical layer, 2. data link, 3.vnetwork, 4. transport, 5. session, 6. presentation, 7. application layer.
So, many switches are layer 2, but layer 3 switches are often referred to as switching routers. This can cause two different switches to act differently from each other in certain network environments. It isn't that one switch "doesn't work" but that it isn't a router.
A router is nominally a L3 device, though most actually are L1-7. To work, you need L1 & L2, but in today's world, there are applications and interfaces that move the router across L1-7, though not to the same depth as purpose built application devices for example. Topping this off, some routers will switch and some will not. It's the same wide-world of words that we see across the whole computer industry.
The OSI model differs from the TCP model of networking, even though both use numbered layers.