End devices connect to the LAN through the access switches. An access switch is a network edge device that directly connects end-user hardware such as computers, IP phones, wireless access points, cameras, and IoT devices to the broader network. The access layer provides initial connections to end users. When designing a campus LAN, you may choose to implement all, some, or none of the Cisco three-layer model's recommendations. It assists mainly in the switching of incoming and outgoing data packets to the right destination, as specified in MAC. Each layer is served by specialized switches, with the access switch connecting end-user devices, the distribution switch aggregating traffic and enforcing policies, and the core switch acting as the high-speed backbone.
[PDF Version]