What is a router?

The router is a network layer device in the OSI model, or the Internet layer device in TCP/IP, the device recognizes an IP address unlike an L2 switch that only recognizes frames. The router can understand and work with all the functions that are at or below its "L3" layer. The main function of a router is to forward packets, it connects two or more different networks, now it is necessary for you to know what different networks are but we are not going to explain this here. A router will also be able to understand functions that are below its "L3" layer, such as vlans, the router is able to understand vlans, a very common configuration in internal or corporate networks where a router's knowledge of vlans is required the configuration called "Router on a stick", where communication is established in a company or house using IP addresses and also vlans. It's worth looking up this configuration on the internet and even setting up a lab in Packet Tracer, for example, to familiarize yourself with the topic. 

It is very common in companies to have the configuration as "Router on a stick" but instead of a common router, a firewall can be used that has the functions of routing and network segmentation using vlans. 

The main function of a router is to route packets and this is a very comprehensive topic, the idea here is just to present the equipment. To introduce the topic of routing, which is the role of the router, we can talk about static routing and also dynamic routing, routing policies, intra-domain and inter-domain routing, we can talk about some algorithms such as RIP, OSPF, BGP, IS-IS and others still. 

Anyway, I hope I have clarified a little more what a router is for you, do not expect that you will find a router and that it is just a router, for example, if there is a router in your house, if you have internet in addition to 4G you probably has a router is built-in along with the router a switch, an access point for a wireless network, maybe in the router there is a built-in firewall, a proxy and so on. The function of a router is usually studied in isolation, but in the real world it works together with others at a layer above and also below. 

Here are some images of routers to illustrate and also the symbol that represents a router.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just an overview of what a router is.

 

 

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