Q1: An access switch can do a core switch job? A: No—they don't. Further, the data packets are forwarded to the addressed group of access devices. Therefore, this. 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. This guide will demystify these roles and help you understand their. Knowing the roles of core, aggregation, and access switches in contemporary network topology becomes essential to create effective and scalable networks. In this case, the word “core” is referring to the switch's position in the networking infrastructure.