A router is a device that connects two or more packet-switched networks or subnets. It receives and sends data over computer networks, and can combine the functions of components such as network hubs, modems, and network switches to improve Internet access or help create business networks. Routers allow devices to connect and share data via the Internet or an intranet, and use the Internet Protocol (IP) to send IP packets containing data and IP addresses of sending and destination devices located on separate local area networks (LANs).Routers are located between these LANs where the sending and receiving devices are connected. Devices can connect through several router “hops” or they can reside on separate LANs connected directly to the same router.
Routers make the Internet work by forwarding data through a unified addressing system, allowing information to be sent anywhere in the world as long as that location has an IP address. Companies can expand their network by adding additional routers or hubs if necessary, but insufficient bandwidth anywhere in the network can cause bottlenecks. At its most basic level, a router is a device that connects networks to each other and forwards data packets from one place to another until they reach their destination. It can be used to increase network reliability using the virtual router redundancy protocol, which is done by configuring a virtual router as the default gateway. Routing protocols specify a way for the router to identify other routers on the network and to make dynamic decisions to send all messages on the network. Therefore, it combines these two bridge and router functions by routing some incoming data to the right systems and transferring the other data to another network.
Juniper's innovative router portfolio is packed with scalability and efficiency, allowing network providers to adapt to unforeseen market changes as they expand and expand their networks. The router reads the packet header to determine where it should go, and then forwards the packet to the next network router via the most efficient route. The subscriber's perimeter router belongs to an end user organization and works in situations where it operates on a border device. By most definitions, the purpose of the network router is defined by its name: it routes packets from one location to another. For example, the office router located along a single predetermined route sends instructions to all networks to your Internet service provider.
