 A router is a device that analyzes the

contents of data packets transmitted within a

network or another network
 The router, at least the common home
network device that we usually call a router is
the piece of network hardware that allows
communication between your local home
network-i.e. your personal computers and
other connected devices – and the internet.
 Routers determine whether the source and
destination are on the same network or whether
data must be transferred from one network type to
another, which requires encapsulating the data
packet whit routing protocol header information
for the new network type.
 Large routers determine interconnectivity whit in a
enterprise, between enterprises and the internet,
and between different internet service providers
(ISPs); small routers determine interconnectivity for
office or home networks. ISPs and major
enterprises exchange routing information using
border gateway protocol(BGP).
 Routing is the hub around which all of IP
connectivity revolves. At the simplest level,
routing establishes basic inter network
communications, implements an addressing
structure that uniquely identifies each device,
and organizes individual devices into a
hierarchical network structure.
 Traditionally, routers have also served as the
media adapters that have connected remote
offices to the headquarters via a WAN.
 The most recent trend, though, is to see routers as
the integration security, policy, and services that
extend the capabilities of IP to support telephony,
video, legacy service integration, and other
applications over a converged network. This means
the router has become the primary control point in
the increasingly complex network environment,
holding responsibility for service quality and
security, monitoring and efficiency, and other
attributes that allow networks to add value. if you
control the routers, you control the network
 Virtual Router

Wireless Router

Wired Router
 Wired router are typically box-shaped devices
that connect directly to computers via ‘hard-
lined’ or wired connections. One connection
port on a wired router allows the router to
connect to a modem for receiving internet
data packs, while another set of ports allows
wired router to connect to computers for
distributing internet data packets. Some
wired routers also provide ports for
distributing data packets to fax machines and
telephones.
 Similar to a wired route, a wireless router
connects directly to a modem via a cable for
receiving internet data packets. However, instead
of relying on cables for distributing data packets
to computer, wireless routers distribute data
packets using one or more antennae. The routers
convert the data packets, which are written in
binary code –or series of 1s and 0s –into radio
signals, which the antennae broadcast wirelessly.
A computer with a wireless receiver can then
receiver can then receive these radio signal and
convert them back into binary code.
 Unlike a physical wired or wireless router, a
virtual router is an abstract, intangible object
that acts as default router for computers
sharing a network. The router function using
the virtual router redundancy protocol (VRRP),
which becomes active when a primary,
physical router fails or other wise becomes
disabled.
 CPU
 ROM
 RAM
 NVRAM
 Flash Memory
 RXBOOT Image
 Interfaces
 Buses