Chapter 10. Routers


SOME OF THE MAIN TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER ARE

What Routers Do

The Difference Between Routable Protocols and Routing Protocols

When Do You Need to Use a Router?

Router Ports and Connections

Configuring Routers

Routers Come in All Sizes

Routers are perhaps one of the most misunderstood devices found in a network. After you create a LAN using simple devices such as switches ”which require little or no configuration ”managing a router can be very intimidating. Some of the reasons for this include the following:

  • Most people do not understand the difference between a connectivity device, such as a switch, and a router. They both can be used to connect computers to a LAN, right?

  • Unless you use sophisticated network console management software, the management and configuration interface for most routers often seems to be very cryptic.

  • Like computers, routers have an "operating system" that controls how they function. There is no universal operating system that can be learned for use with routers from different vendors .

  • Routers come in all sizes and shapes . You can find a small, inexpensive router to connect a small office LAN to a broadband connection (such as DSL or a cable modem). Still larger standalone and rack-mounted units can be used for Enterprise networks. At the high end of this market are powerful machines used as Internet core routers.

In this chapter you will learn about the functions performed by routers ”from those at the low end of the scale to the top of the line. In addition, this chapter introduces some of the topics that enable routers to be used in a firewall.

Firewalls are discussed in more detail in Chapter 49, "Firewalls."




Upgrading and Repairing Networks
Upgrading and Repairing Networks (5th Edition)
ISBN: 078973530X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 434

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