NETWORK ROUTERS

A router is a networking device that receives processes and forward data packets between different computer networks. The main function of the router are; path selection, network address translation (NAT), fire wall protection, Dynamic host configuration protocol server (DHCP), and traffic management.

There are several types of routers and they are; home/SOHO router (small office, home office), core router (back bone router), enterprise router (edge/distribution router), wireless router, mesh router system, virtual router (VRouter), Broadband/DSL/cable router, SD-WAN router (software defined WAN, mobile/LTE router (cellular router) etc.

Home/soho router is the most common router type, combining routing, switching, Wi-Fi acess and firewall in one box. Example includes; TP-Link Archer AX73, ASUS RT-AX88U, Netgear nighthawk etc.

Core routers (back bone router) are high performance routers that operate within the core of the internet or large enterprise networks, handling massive volumes of traffic at lightning speed. Example includes; CISCO CRS-1, Juniper PTX10016, Nokia 7950 XRS etc.

Enterprise router (edge/distribution router) sits at the boundary between an enterprise LAN and WAN, handling traffic routing for medium to large organizations. Example includes; CISCO ISR 4000 series, Juniper SRX series, Fortinet Fortigate etc.

Wireless router provides both routing and wi-fi access point functionality. Modern versions support Wi-Fi 6/6E (802.11ax). Example includes;Eero Pro 6E, Linksys Velop, Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro etc.

Mesh router system is a distributed network of nodes where multiple router units work together to blanket an entire home or campus in Wi-Fi with seamless roaming. Example includes Google nest mesh, TP-Link Deco, Amazon Eero, Orbi RBK8635 etc.

Virtual router (iV Router) is a software based router running on a virtual machine or cloud infrastructure instead of a dedicated hardware. Example includes; Vyos, CISCO CSR 1000V, Juniper VMX, AWS Transit Gateway etc.

Broadband/DSL/Cable Router connects users to the internet via DSL, cable or fiber lines. It is often provided ISPs, combining a modem and router. Examples include; Arris  SURFboard, Motorola MB8611, Technicolor TG 789. Etc.

Software defined WAN (SD-WAN) router uses software intelligence to dynamically route WAN traffic across MPLS, broadband,LTE and cloud links for maximum efficiency. Example includes; CISCO vip tela, VMware velocloud, silver peak, palo alto Prisma SD-WAN etc.

Mobile/LTE Router (Cellular Router) routes internal traffic over 4GLTE or 5G cellular networks, often used as a primary or backup connection. Examples include Net gear Night hawk M6, cradle point IBR 900, GL.inetspitz etc.

The advantages of routers are; routers connect multiple networks together. Routers make smart decisions about the best path of data, reducing congestion and improving overall network performance. Routers provide the first line of defense through built in firewalls and access control lists that blocks unauthorized users. Routers are versatile and can support multiple devices simultaneously. Routers can divide a large network into smaller subnets, improving performance, reducing traffic collisions and enhancing security. Routers provide backups for network redundancy, thereby making the network reliable. Routers can connect network that use different communication protocols by acting as translators between incompatible technologies. Routers can prioritize critical traffic over less urgent traffic. Routers allow network grow by simply adding more routers to the network without disrupting the existing infrastructure. Routers enable VPN connections, thereby allowing users to securely access resources from anywhere in the world.

The disadvantages of routers are; routers are very complex and expensive requiring very specialized knowledge to install, maintain and operate. The use of routers results in a small amount of delay (latency) compared to simpler devices like switches. Routers are prone to failure if they are not built with redundancy. Routers are prone to attacks from hackers, so unprotected routers can expose entire networks to cyber-attacks, malware and unauthorized access. Routers have a maximum band width or throughput capacity otherwise improper selection of router can result in bottlenecks to the entire network. Routers require regular firmware updates, monitoring and maintenance. Wireless routers are susceptible to signal interference and are heavily dependent on the internet service providers (ISP) infrastructure.

The application of routers are as follows; routers are used in homes for sharing broad band internet for family devices, IOT, online gaming, video streaming and home security camera networks. Routers are used in business and enterprise networks to connect branch offices to headquarters via WAN, secure remote employee access through VPNs and host internal servers and cloud applications. Routers are used in health care to connect hospital departments, devices, telemedicine, remote patient monitoring and secure transfer of sensitive patient records and real time imaging transmission. Routers are used in educational institutions to connect elearning platforms and research networks. Routers are used in banking and finance to secure inter-branch communication, ATM network connectivity, real time transaction processing and fraud detection system networking. Routers find use in industrial and manufacturing for factory automation, IOT networks, SCADA system connectivity and supply chain and logistics management. Routers are used in government and emergency services, transportation, telecommunication and so on.

The future of routers depends on the advances and development of the following technologies; next generation of wireless router, capable of delivering speeds beyond 30Gbps with multi-link operation, dramatically lower latency and excellent performance. Future routers will use artificial intelligence to automatically optimize routing decisions, predict network congestions, detect cyber threat and self-heal network issues. The shift from hardware based routers to software defined routers will continue, allowing networks to be programmed, managed and scaled entirely through software. In the future routers will process data locally at the network edge rather than sending it to distant cloud. Future routers will enforce zero thrust principles and evolve to handle quantum encrypted communications. Future routers will project on green and efficient routing, autonomous self-managing networks and so on.

 

SOURCES:

• Computer networks by Andrew S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall.
• Network warrior by Gary A. Donahue.
• Internet routing architecture by Sam Halabi and Danny McPherson.
• Software defined networks: A comprehensive approach by Paul Goransson, Chuck Black and Timothy Gulver.
• Network security fundamentals by Wendell Odom and Michael Watkins.