Are gateways the same as routers?

The gateway and the router are different; the gateway is mainly used to connect two different networks. At the same time, the gateway can also communicate with the hosts on both sides at the same time, while the router is a network layer device, usually Data is sent in packet units, and the sub-interface of the router has the function of dividing the broadcast domain.

#The operating environment of this article: Windows 7 system, Dell G3 computer.

1. Essential difference

The gateway is a device that is mainly used to connect two different networks. At the same time, the gateway can also communicate with the hosts on both sides at the same time. However, the hosts on both sides cannot communicate directly, and must communicate through the gateway. The work of the gateway is in the application layer.

Router is a network layer device that usually sends data in packet units. The sub-interface of the router has the function of dividing the broadcast domain, so when we use the switch to create a VLAN, we need to create a Layer 3 routing on the router.

2. Differences in usage

A gateway can be a router, switch or PC. Communication within the same network segment does not require the intervention of the gateway. Only when the host device communicates with a device other than the local network segment, all data packets need to be sent to the gateway device, and then forwarded or transmitted through the gateway device. There is routing processing and so on.

Router is a network layer system. Routers in the current market are generally divided into two categories, one is single-protocol router and the other is multi-protocol router. Routers can convert data formats and become necessary equipment for network interconnection between different protocols.

3. Functional differences

Gateways can be divided into transmission gateways and application gateways. Its function is to serve as the conversion task, which is essentially IP addresses from one network to other networks.

The main functions of a router are: connecting different networks and transmitting information. According to use, it can be divided into: access, enterprise level, backbone level, terabit, multi-WAN and 3G wireless.

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