What is a router? Mastering the router

The spread of the Internet encourages ordinary users to actively participate in the use of the latest technologies without the help of specialist intermediaries. As practice showed, a true specialist in the field of IT-technologies is not easy to find, and their services are not expensive. Another matter is the abundance of consultants-amateurs. And although they maintain prices for their services at a high level, the quality and scope of their work is quite possible for an ordinary user.

Problems of organizing a local network arise not only for system administrators of enterprises and offices. The abundance of digital devices in the use of the usual average family, involuntarily requires not only the separation of traffic, but also their inclusion in a common network. The best way to solve this problem is to use a router (router).

What is a router? A specialist's words are a device that acts as the main link of a local network. A router is a high-tech switch that, based on information about the network topology and certain rules, makes a decision to forward packets between the elements making up the network.

The principle of the router is based on the use of the address of the recipient, laid directly in the data packet, which is determined by the device on the routing table and selects the data transfer path. In the absence of a route, the packet is discarded to describe the address.

Other methods of determining packet forwarding routes can use the sender address, for this purpose, upper layer protocols and other information that contains packet headers of a particular network layer are taken into account. Often, routers take on the function of translating the addresses of both the recipient and the sender of transit data, based on certain rules to restrict access.

For the average user, the question of what a router is, finds a much simpler answer. In fact, it is a compact device located at the input of the local network. Depending on its type, it can transmit data both by wire and wireless communication technology.

Dynamic routing allows the router to integrate a large number of elements into the network and even several local loops. What is a router in this case? This device is already beyond the usual link. With its help not only the work of the system administrator is facilitated, but also the opportunity to organize a full-fledged local network by the forces of the ordinary user is provided.

We no longer have to "bother" with the specific concepts and jargon of specialists, there is no need to delve into the classification of protocols. It's enough to pass all the requirements of the instructions to the points, and as a result of several minutes of work the local network with wide opportunities for our services.

The process of setting up the router is so simple that even a schoolboy can master it. There may be some inconsistencies in determining the network address of the router itself, but they are solved either automatically or manually (depending on the type of devices used).

If initially the definition of the router looked very confusing due to the use of specific terms, now anyone who encountered its configuration and installation can answer the question of what a router is. A simple and affordable device that facilitates the process of networking, finds a place in the office and at home. The interface with it is simple and intuitive. The merit of developers of modern routers is to simplify the process of their configuration, which makes them very common and available among a wide range of modern users.