What is a routed port on a Layer 3 switch, and how do you create one?

A routed port is a Layer 2 switchport that has been converted into a Layer 3 interface (like a router port) using the no switchport command, allowing it to be assigned an IP (Internet Protocol) address.

Why you need routed ports:

• To connect a Layer 3 switch to another Layer 3 device (router or another L3 switch)
• The routed port acts like a physical router interface
• You can then configure static or dynamic routing between the devices

How to create a routed port:

D1(config)# interface G1/0/1
D1(config-if)# no switchport
D1(config-if)# ip address 10.10.10.2 255.255.255.0
D1(config-if)# no shut

Key difference from regular switchports:

• A regular switchport operates at Layer 2 (switches frames based on MAC (Media Access Control))
• A routed port operates at Layer 3 (routes packets based on IP)
• A routed port is not associated with any VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network)
• It behaves identically to a physical interface on a Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) router

Tip: Think of no switchport as telling the switch: "Stop being a switch on this port — act like a router instead."

Go deeper:

• SVI vs routed port (N-Study) — diagrams a port converted via no switchport + IP, contrasted with an SVI.
• InterVLAN routing using a Layer 3 switch (NetworkAcademy.IO) — routed-port/ASIC routing with topology and routing-table output.