What are the different types of router?

Routers are located at network gateways. They are responsible for maintaining the flow of data between networks and maintaining networks connected to the Internet. If you’re in the market for a new router, currently rely on a router to connect to the Internet or are just curious about computer networking technologies, learn to know the different types of routers can be helpful.

Wired Router

Router cable is typically box-shaped devices that connect directly to your computer using “hard-line” or wired connections. A connection port on a cable router allows the router to connect to a modem for receiving Internet data packets, while another set of doors allow a wired router to connect to the computer for the distribution of Internet data packets. Some wired router ports also provide for the distribution of fax data packets and phones. One of the most common varieties of the wired router is the wide-band Ethernet router. These routers include support for network address translation technology (NAT), which allows multiple computers that are connected to a wired router to share a single IP address (Internet Protocol). For security, wired routers typically use firewall: Stately Packet Inspection (SPI), and to provide communication between computers on a network, routers use DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).

Wireless Router

Similar to a wired router, a wireless router connects directly to a cable modem for receiving Internet data packets. However, instead of relying on cables for the distribution of data packets to computers, wireless routers distribute data packets using one or more antennas. The router data packets, which are written in binary code or series of 1s and 0s – convert radio signals, the antennas transmit wirelessly. A computer with a wireless receiver can then receive these radio signals and convert them into binary code. Unlike a wired router, which establishes a wired local area network (LAN), a wireless router is a wireless local area network (WLAN). The most common standard for WLAN is known as Wi-Fi. To protect Wi-Fi networks, wireless routers generally use wireless media access control (MAC) address filtering and Wi-Fi security Protected Access (WPA).

Core router vs Edge router

A core router is a wired or wireless router that distributes Internet data packets within a network, but not to distribute data packets between networks. In contrast, an edge router has a wired or wireless router that distributes Internet data packets between one or more networks, but do not distribute the data packets within a network.

Virtual Router

Unlike a wireless router or via a physical cable, a virtual router is an abstract object, immaterial, which acts as a default router to the computers on a network sharing. The router functions using the Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP), which becomes active when a primary router, physical fails or otherwise becomes disabled.