Mentor: Today we’ll explore some network fundamentals
Lets begin with a Router – A router receives and sends data on computer networks.
Student: What does it do?
Mentor: Routers connect one network of computers to another network.
They guide the network data using packets. The data could be anything like some files some communication or some simple web interaction.
The data packets have several sections, some of them are sender, data type, size, the destination IP (Internet protocol) address.
The router reads this layer takes a decision on what to do with the data and if it decides to forward it chooses the best route to use for each transmission.
It connects your business to the world, protects information from security threats, and can even decide which computers get priority over others.
Student: But we didn’t look at whats is data / packets / IP
Mentor: Yes we will be going over these things several times don’t worry about that. Right now the idea is for you to get some familiarity with the word not a complete understanding. The understanding will slowly dawn on you.
These are some types of router:
Core router
They are generally used by service providers like AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone or any other ISP or cloud providers like for example Google, Amazon, Microsoft.
They can provide maximum bandwidth so that additional routers and switches can be connected.
If you are running a small business and you need a router then you don’t need to go looking for a core router.
If you have a very large business with many employeers working in multiple buildings and locations you probably might need core routers in your design.
Edge router
So these are one the edge of your design like at the outermost point – like a gateway to the outside world – that could be any other external network including the internet.
These routers are also offer optimal bandwidth and you can connect further routers to distribute data.
Student: So is modem like an edge router?
Mentor: true to some extent but its not a common usage of term when referring edge routers as they are much more capable.
Distribution router
A distribution router can be further connected to these edge router and further distributed to users. Its not the same router. The model/make is different so that it has capabilities to carry more ethernet connections or Wifi
Wireless router
These are also common for home network and internet access. The ISPs provide these while providing the connectivity.
Wireless routers, or residential gateways, combine the functions of edge routers and distribution routers. These are commonplace routers for home networks and Internet access.
Virtual router
In virtual router some router functions are virtualized in the cloud and delivered as a service.
They are flexible and scalable and you don’t have to worry about the management of the local hardware