The Router and Your Network

Written: December 10, 2007

What do routers do? In a nutshell, 1) they untangle information as they transmit packets across paths; and 2) they connect or link computer devices together. Without routers, we could not have networks and Internet access in how we know it today. This list shows what routers do:

Routers provide a unified environment for large groups of people to connect together - they connect one local area network to another.
"Routers can simultaneously support different protocols (such as Ethernet, Token Ring, ISDN, and others), effectively making virtually all computers compatible at the internetwork level" (Cisco a Beginner's Guide Third Edition by Velte & Velte).
Routers route information and make decisions as to what IP addresses or networks to pass information packets to.
Routers direct traffic primarily at end points.
Routers can be security gates and filter unwanted traffic and act as security devices.

"Routers are like mini Towers of Babel. The router's ability to support different protocols simultaneously is probably its most important feature because this capability lets otherwise incompatible computers talk with one another regardless of operating system, data format, or communications medium" (Cisco a Beginner's Guide Third Edition by Velte & Velte).

(Illustration from smallnetbuilder.com)

Summary

Routers determine how network traffic is forked or routed, and they are the backbone to any network. Routers are configured to each network, and routers are typically found in subgroups or classes within network systems (as illustrated).

How Can You Better Protect Your Network?

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 GGI 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.