Changes

Routers are key components of any network, whether at home or in an enterprise environment. They are responsible for connecting multiple networks, such as your local area network (LAN) to the wider internet. Key differences between routers and switches include:

Routers are key components of any network, whether at home or in an enterprise environment. They are responsible for connecting multiple networks, such as your local area network (LAN) to the wider internet. Key differences between routers and switches include:

- Routing Functionality. Routers make decisions based on IP addresses to determine the best path for data packets. They maintain a routing table and perform network address translation (NAT) to manage multiple devices sharing a single public IP address. Also, routers can use dynamic routing protocols (e.g., OSPF, BGP) to exchange routing information with other routers dynamically. This enables routers to adapt to changes in the network topology and automatically update their routing tables, ensuring efficient and up-to-date path selection.

* Routing Functionality. Routers make decisions based on IP addresses to determine the best path for data packets. They maintain a routing table and perform network address translation (NAT) to manage multiple devices sharing a single public IP address. Also, routers can use dynamic routing protocols (e.g., OSPF, BGP) to exchange routing information with other routers dynamically. This enables routers to adapt to changes in the network topology and automatically update their routing tables, ensuring efficient and up-to-date path selection.

- Network Layer. Routers operate at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model, providing interconnectivity between different IP subnets.

* Network Layer. Routers operate at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model, providing interconnectivity between different IP subnets.

- Security Features. Routers often include firewall capabilities, which can filter and control the flow of traffic to enhance network security.

* Security Features. Routers often include firewall capabilities, which can filter and control the flow of traffic to enhance network security.

- QoS support. Routers often support Quality of Service mechanisms to prioritize certain types of network traffic over others. This is crucial for applications that require consistent and low-latency communication, such as voice and video conferencing.

* QoS support. Routers often support Quality of Service mechanisms to prioritize certain types of network traffic over others. This is crucial for applications that require consistent and low-latency communication, such as voice and video conferencing.

- Virtual LANs (VLANs). Routers can be configured to support Virtual LANs, allowing the segmentation of a physical network into multiple logical networks. VLANs enhance network efficiency, security, and management by isolating broadcast domains and controlling communication between different segments.

* Virtual LANs (VLANs). Routers can be configured to support Virtual LANs, allowing the segmentation of a physical network into multiple logical networks. VLANs enhance network efficiency, security, and management by isolating broadcast domains and controlling communication between different segments.

- Network Monitoring and Management. Routers typically come with management interfaces that allow administrators to monitor and configure the device. They support protocols like SNMP, MQTT for network monitoring, making it easier to identify and troubleshoot issues in the network.

* Network Monitoring and Management. Routers typically come with management interfaces that allow administrators to monitor and configure the device. They support protocols like SNMP, MQTT for network monitoring, making it easier to identify and troubleshoot issues in the network.

==Unmanaged Switch==

==Unmanaged Switch==