What Is a Network Router?
A network router allows a number of computers to share the same Internet connection and connect with one another, while providing additional security in the form of port control, connection filtering and firewall services. Routers are essential tools for both basic networking and online security. They often come in a wireless variety, broadcasting a radio signal that provides connectivity to all devices within range.
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Significance
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A router routs packets of data from one network to another. For personal computing, routers are commonly used to connect a home network of a few computers to the Internet. In a professional context, routers can be used to connect vast networks of computers in a complex web, all connected to the Internet. In many cases, the routers also act as translators for different Internet protocols, ensuring the efficient and uninhibited transmission of data.
Function
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Routers also handle connection priorities and can be programmed to identify certain tasks as more important than others. These machines direct data to where it is needed, withholding unnecessary information and functioning to keep the network moving at as fast a speed as possible. They may seem like very basic pieces of machinery, but as networks become more complex, the router has far more work to do. The most powerful routers have specialized high-speed processors and substantial amounts of on-board memory to handle the large amount of data flowing through them.
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Features
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Perhaps the most important role that routers play is that of a hardware security mechanism. Unlike software firewalls, routers can't be tampered with directly, and provide considerable protection against many common hacking techniques. Network administrators can define which network ports can be used for what purposes, and by what computers on the network, by using router configuration software. It's a powerful but simple tool for maximizing the efficiency and security of a network.
Considerations
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Network security is something that many people could stand to take a bit more seriously-- particularly in wireless networking. The majority of people who set up a network never alter the default administrator password. Particularly for wireless routers, this puts many people at risk of having their network compromised. This makes identity theft and other computer crimes easy xecute. Consult your owner's manual to learn to set up strong network passwords and make sure that any transmitted wireless signal is encrypted.
Potential
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Routing software can make any computer with suitable computing power into a functional router. Routers are simply small, specialized computers designed for a specific task. It's often possible to provide high-powered routing using an old computer that may be lying around collecting dust. Using open-source routing software, a former computing paperweight can be turned into a relatively powerful router, providing networking solutions--and considerable additional security, as they can also be used as an additional firewall for the network, acting as an additional filter for the network.
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Resources
- Photo Credit jepoirrier, Flickr
