Physical Layer Switches

A Physical Layer Switch (PLS) is a hardware device that performs like an electronic patch panel. Users can send a command to a PLS to change connections without moving cables. The PLS handles data at the physical (PHY) or first layer of the OSI model of network architecture. Also known as a Layer 1 Switch, a PLS acts like a wire or cable on the hardware level, and therefore is not aware of and has no influence on the actual protocol or routing information contained within the data stream.