At 12:25 PM 11/8/01 -0500, Mark Fraleigh wrote the following: > As usual I am in need of information. I would like to know if someone >could explain exactally what a router does and do all routers have hardware >firwalls in them. Also is it a good idea to have a router on a home system >that has high speed internet access. Any and all info is appreciated.
Routers connect LANs together. They route TCP/IP traffic in the best manner to a host computer or between hosts. Example: assume you work in 15 story corporate building that sits lengthwise on a plot of ground in a North-South manner and that the main computer is on the second floor. Each floor has 4 LANs (N,E,W,S). So a router is used on each floor to connect the 4 LANs together. Then another router is used on each floor to connect the floors together, finally a router (or routers) are used to connect the floor routers to the main computer. The main computer is connected to the Internet via another router.The routers purpose are to select the best path from any computer on any floor LAN to any computer on any other floor LAN and to/from the Internet. The more routers you have, the more travel paths that can be selected, thus speeding communications between any two computers. Not all routers have firewalls but they all have software that can be configured. Most router manufacturers make a range of routers, with and without firewall functionality in the software. As you can see from my description above, most routers don't need a firewall, ONLY those that connect a LAN or WAN to the Internet directly. In the 15 story building scenario above, only 1 router has or needs firewall security, the one that connects to the Internet. See Cisco feature set http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/pcat/iofwfts1.htm You only need a router if you have a home LAN. Home routers for LAN use usually have firewalls. See LinkSys EtherFast DSL router for example: http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=20&grid=5 -- Gerry Boyd ============= PCWorks Mailing List ================= Don't see your post? Check our posting guidelines & make sure you've followed proper posting procedures, http://pcworkers.com/rules.htm Contact list owner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Unsubscribing and other changes: http://pcworkers.com =====================================================
