Why Does a Computer Network Need a Cisco Router?

Written: June 13, 2007

What is a router? "A router is a computer networking device that buffers and forwards data packets across an  internetwork toward their destinations, through a process known as routing. Routing occurs at layer 3 (the Network layer e.g. IP) of the OSI seven-layer protocol stack" (Wikipedia).

A router connects two or more networks. For example, you can connect your home network to the Internet (also known as a WAN). Since a router is capable of connecting a home network to the Internet by a single connection, you can see why routers are similar to hubs. However, routers have upstaged hubs, because of the built-in "switch" feature. This means that today's routers can connect all your devices together, as well as connect all your devices to the Internet.

The most commonly known wireless router is called the Linksys due to its "all-in-one" functionality. It can connect devices through radio waves through a device called an "access point". The Linksys router contains an internal "switch" and an access point. The Linksys router not only connects the home network to the Internet, but it connects wired devices, and the access point connects wireless devices.

Routers are often referred to as being the heart of networks, because everything goes through it. As you can see from the illustration, why routers are considered the heart of a network in large corporations.

Linksys is only one variety of Cisco routers that is typically used for home networks.

As you can see, a router is a device that links a local network to a remote network. Just about every company uses a router to link or connect to the Internet. A router can also be used to connect LAN to a LAN, WAN to a WAN, or LAN to the Internet. Examples of this are: Cisco 7206 and Cisco 3640.

A Cisco uBR925 Cable Access Router allows cable service providers to connect Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Voice-over-IP (VoIP) services to small businesses. This particular router can support voice, modem, and fax calls over a cable IP network.

No doubt about it, today's technology is truly amazing! The GGI Networks' sales team will find you the network equipment you need! For questions call 1-800-908-9665 or email us at: sales@gginetworks.com.

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About GGI Network's Author:
 

Debbie Jensen, an expert writer for business and technology for Genesis Global Networks, has a Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communication (Multimedia). With her twenty year history of creative expressions and formalized study of Information Technology of digital print/web design and development, she is now publishing articles about networking for GGI Networks.   

GGI Networks provides educational IT information about computer networks. The articles are intended for the general public.

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