Episode 70: Three-Tiered Architecture — Core, Distribution, and Access
Modern enterprise networks are often designed using a layered or three-tier architecture, which promotes scalability, redundancy, and modular design. In this episode, we examine each layer—access, distribution, and core—explaining the responsibilities and characteristics of each. The access layer connects end-user devices, the distribution layer handles routing and policy enforcement, and the core provides high-speed backbone connectivity between buildings or major zones.
We also explain why this architecture is preferred in medium to large-scale environments and how it supports things like VLAN segmentation, QoS policies, and redundant paths. By understanding this model, you can better interpret topology diagrams, design scalable infrastructures, and pinpoint the origin of network issues more quickly. It’s a model that comes up on the exam and in nearly every enterprise deployment.
