A multi-layer class identifying communication apparatus, includes an input interface connected to input communication lines; a switch circuit; and an output interface connected to output communication lines. The input interface comprises an allocating section which determines a class identifier indicative of one of classes to which an IP packet belongs, from header data of the IP packet received through one of the input communication lines, and allocates an IP-QOS (Internet-Protocol-Quality-of-Service) code to the IP packet. The switch circuit selects one of the output communication lines based on a destination address of the IP packet, such that the IP packet is outputted from the output interface to the selected output communication output interface.