Routers Are Computers
Routers are Computers
A router is a computer, just like any other computer including a PC. The very first router, used for the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET), was the Interface Message Processor (IMP). The IMP was a Honeywell 316 minicomputer; this computer brought the ARPANET to life on August 30, 1969.
Note: The ARPANET was developed by Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the United States Department of Defense. The ARPANET was the world's first operational packet switching network and the predecessor of today's Internet.
Routers have many of the same hardware and software components that are found in other computers including: • CPU • RAM • ROM • Operating System
Routers are at the network center
A router connects multiple networks. This means that it has multiple interfaces that each belong to a different IP network. When a router receives an IP packet on one interface, it determines which interface to use to forward the packet onto its destination. The interface that the router uses to forward the packet may be the network of the final destination of the packet (the network with the destination IP address of this packet), or it may be a network connected to another router that is used to reach the destination network.
Each network that a router connects to typically requires a separate interface. These interfaces are used to connect a combination of both Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs). LANs are commonly Ethernet networks that contain devices such as PCs, printers, and servers. WANs are used to connect networks over a large geographical area. For example, a WAN connection is commonly used to connect a LAN to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) network.
Routers determine the best path
The primary responsibility of a router is to direct packets destined for local and remote networks by: • Determining the best path to send packets • Forwarding packets toward
A router is a computer, just like any other computer including a PC. The very first router, used for the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET), was the Interface Message Processor (IMP). The IMP was a Honeywell 316 minicomputer; this computer brought the ARPANET to life on August 30, 1969.
Note: The ARPANET was developed by Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the United States Department of Defense. The ARPANET was the world's first operational packet switching network and the predecessor of today's Internet.
Routers have many of the same hardware and software components that are found in other computers including: • CPU • RAM • ROM • Operating System
Routers are at the network center
A router connects multiple networks. This means that it has multiple interfaces that each belong to a different IP network. When a router receives an IP packet on one interface, it determines which interface to use to forward the packet onto its destination. The interface that the router uses to forward the packet may be the network of the final destination of the packet (the network with the destination IP address of this packet), or it may be a network connected to another router that is used to reach the destination network.
Each network that a router connects to typically requires a separate interface. These interfaces are used to connect a combination of both Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs). LANs are commonly Ethernet networks that contain devices such as PCs, printers, and servers. WANs are used to connect networks over a large geographical area. For example, a WAN connection is commonly used to connect a LAN to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) network.
Routers determine the best path
The primary responsibility of a router is to direct packets destined for local and remote networks by: • Determining the best path to send packets • Forwarding packets toward