Fundamentals

 A router is a special type of computer.

 It has the same basic components as a
standard desktop PC.
 It has a CPU, memory, a system bus, and
various input/output interfaces.
 However, routers are designed to
perform some very specific functions that
are not typically performed by desktop
computers.
Fundamentals
 Just as computers need operating systems to
run software applications, routers need the
Internetwork Operating System software (IOS)
to run configuration files.
 These configuration files contain the instructions
and parameters that control the flow of traffic in
and out of the routers.
 Specifically, by using routing protocols, routers
make decisions regarding the best path for
packets
Components
Components
 RAM, has the following characteristics and
functions:
 Stores routing tables
 Holds ARP cache
 Holds fast-switching cache
 Performs packet buffering (shared RAM)
 Maintains packet-hold queues
 Provides temporary memory for the configuration
file of the router while the router is powered on
 Loses content when router is powered down or
restarted
Components
 NVRAM has the following
characteristics and functions:
 Provides storage for the startup
configuration file
 Retains content when router is
powered down or restarted
Components
 Flash memory has the following
characteristics and functions:
 Holds the operating system image (IOS)
 Allows software to be updated without removing
and replacing chips on the processor
 Retains content when router is powered down or
restarted
 Can store multiple versions of IOS software
 Is a type of electronically erasable, programmable
ROM (EEPROM)
Components
 ROM has the following characteristics
and functions:
 Maintains instructions for power-on self
test (POST) diagnostics
 Stores bootstrap program and basic
operating system software
 Requires replacing pluggable chips on the
motherboard for software upgrades
Interfaces
 Interfaces have the following
characteristics and functions:
 Connect router to network for packets
entry and exit
 Can be on the motherboard or on a
separate module
Interfaces
 The interfaces are the router
connections to the outside.
 The three types of interfaces are
local-area network (LANs), wide-
area network (WANs), and
Console/AUX
Interfaces
 The LAN interfaces are usually one
of several different varieties of
Ethernet or Token Ring.
 These interfaces have controller
chips that provide the logic for
connecting the system to the media.
 The LAN interfaces may be a fixed
configuration or modular.
Interfaces
 The WAN interfaces include serial,
ISDN, and integrated Channel
Service Unit (CSUs).
 As with LAN interfaces, WAN
interfaces also have special
controller chips for the interfaces.
 The WAN interfaces may be a fixed
configuration or modular.
Interfaces
 The Console/AUX ports are serial ports
used primarily for the initial
configuration of the router.
 These ports are not networking ports.
 They are used for terminal sessions from
the communication ports on the
computer or through a modem.
Segmentation
Internetworking
Functions
 They operate at Layer 3 of the OSI model,
making decisions based on network
addresses.
 The two main functions of a router are the
selection of best path for and the switching
of packets to the proper interface.
 Routers accomplish this by building routing
tables and exchanging network information
with other routers
Functions
 An administrator can maintain
routing tables by configuring static
routes.
 But generally routing tables are
maintained dynamically through the
use of a routing protocol.
 Routing protocol exchanges network
topology (path) information with
other routers
Functions
 A correctly configured internetwork
provides the following:
 Consistent end-to-end addressing
 Addresses that represent network
topologies
 Best path selection
 Dynamic or static routing
 Switching
Layers
 A WAN is said to operate at the physical
layer and at the data link layer.
 It simply means that the characteristics
that separate a WAN from a LAN are
typically found at the physical layer and
the data link layer.
 In other words, the standards and
protocols used in WANs at Layer 1 and
Layer 2 are different from those used in
LANs at the same layers
DTE-DCE
 The WAN physical layer describes the interface
between the data terminal equipment (DTE) and
the data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE).
 Generally, the DCE is the service provider and
the DTE is the attached device.
 In this model, the services offered to the DTE are
made available through a modem or a CSU/DSU
 CSU/DSU is used to convert the data from the
DTE into a form acceptable to the WAN service
provider
DTE-DCE
 Functions
 The principal function of a router is routing.
 Routing occurs at the network layer, Layer 3,
but if a WAN operates at Layers 1 and 2, is a
router a LAN device or a WAN device?
 The answer is both, as is so often the case in
the field of networking.
 A router may be exclusively a LAN device, it
may be exclusively a WAN device, or it may sit
at the boundary between a LAN and a WAN and
be a LAN and WAN device at the same time.
Functions
 Routing is a major function of routers
 Equally important is providing connections to and
between the various WAN physical and data-link
standards
 ISDN with PPP and T1 with Frame Relay
 Router should be able to move data from one
interface to another interface
Physical Layer
 WAN physical layer standards and protocols:
 EIA/TIA-232
 EIA/TIA-449
 V.24
 V.35
 X.21
 G.703
 EIA-530
 ISDN
 T1, T3, E1, and E3
 xDSL
 SONET (OC-3, OC-12, OC-48, OC-192)
Data Link Layer
 WAN data link layer standards and protocols:
 High-level data link control (HDLC)
 Frame Relay
 Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)
 Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC)
 Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)
 X.25
 ATM
 LAPB ( Link Access Procedure Balanced )
 LAPD ( Link Access Procedure on D Channel )
 LAPF ( Link Access Procedure for Frame Relay )
Internal Components
Functions of Components
Main Board
Mother Board
1700 – Front View
1700 – Rear View
1700 – Expansion Cards
2600 – Front View
2600 – Rear View
2600 – Expansion Cards
Configuration Ports
 The console port and the auxiliary (AUX)
port are management ports.
 These asynchronous serial ports are not
designed as networking ports.
 One of these two ports is required for
the initial configuration of the router.
 The console port is recommended for
this initial configuration.
 Not all routers have an auxiliary port.
Configuration Ports
 When the router is first put into service,
there are no networking parameters
configured.
 Therefore the router cannot communicate
with any network.
 To prepare for initial startup and
configuration, attach an RS-232 ASCII
terminal, or a computer emulating an ASCII
terminal, to the system console port.
 Then configuration commands can be
entered to set up the router.
Configuration Ports
Configuration Ports
Configuration Ports
 Once this initial configuration is entered
into the router through the console or
auxiliary port, the router can then be
connected to the network for
troubleshooting or monitoring.
 The console port is also preferred over
the auxiliary port for troubleshooting.
Configuration Ports
Configuration Ports
 To connect to the console port, a
rollover cable and a RJ-45 to DB-9
adapter are used to connect a PC.
 Cisco supplies the necessary
adapter to connect to the console
port.
Configuration Ports
 The PC or terminal must support
VT100 terminal emulation.
 Terminal emulation software such
as HyperTerminal is usually used.
Configuration Ports
 To connect the PC to a router:
 Configure terminal emulation software on the PC for:
 The appropriate com port
 9600 baud
 8 data bits
 No parity
 1 stop bit
 No flow control
 Connect the RJ-45 connector of the rollover cable to the
router console port.
 Connect the other end of the rollover cable to the RJ-45
to DB-9 adapter.
 Attach the female DB-9 adapter to a PC.
Connections
 In most LAN environments, the router is
connected to the LAN using an Ethernet
or Fast Ethernet interface.
 The router is a host that communicates
with the LAN via a hub or a switch.
 A straight-through cable is used to
make this connection.
 A 10/100BaseTX router interface
requires Category 5 or better,
unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) regardless
of the router type.
Connections
 In some cases the Ethernet
connection of the router is
connected directly to the computer
or to another router.
 For this type of connection, a
crossover cable is required.
Connections
 Straight through
 Switch to Router
 Cross-over
 Router to Router
 Router to PC
 Roll-over
 Console port to console
Connections
 The most commonly used router
interfaces for WAN services are
serial interfaces
 What is the type of connection to
the Cisco device?
 Is the network system being
connected to a DTE or DCE device?
Connections
 What signaling standard does the
device require?
 Is a male or female connector
required on the cable?
Connections
Connections