Final answer:
Multilayer switches are able to make routing decisions based on MAC addresses, IP addresses, and protocols. While they can also use port numbers for traffic management, port numbers are not typically utilized for routing decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Multilayer switches, also known as Layer 3 switches, are advanced devices that combine the functionalities of both switches (Layer 2 devices) and routers (Layer 3 devices). They facilitate faster packet processing by utilizing hardware-based switching along with the ability to make routing decisions based on multiple layers of the OSI model. In contrast to traditional switches that operate at Layer 2 using only MAC addresses, multilayer switches can use additional information for routing decisions.
The types of data that these switches can use to make routing decisions include:
- MAC addresses: This is the physical hardware address of network devices used at Layer 2.
- IP addresses: At Layer 3, these logical addresses are used to route packets between different network segments.
- Protocol: Information about the protocol (e.g., TCP, UDP) can influence routing decisions, especially when considering Quality of Service (QoS) or security policies.
- Port number: Though not typically used for routing, port numbers can be a decision factor in access control and traffic management.
Therefore, a multilayer switch can make routing decisions based on MAC address, IP address, and protocol, while the port number can be important for traffic management but is not typically used for routing decisions.