Router (computing)
A router is a device that determines the next network point to which a packet should be forwarded toward its destination. A router must be connected to at least two networks.
A router creates and/or maintains a table, called a routing table that stores the best routes to certain network destinations and the metrics associated with those routes.
There are several manufacturers of routers including
- Ascend Communications (http://www.ascend.com)
- Cabletron (http://www.cabletron.com)
- Cisco Systems (http://www.cisco.com)
- 3Com (http://www.3com.com)
- Pivotal Networking (http://www.pivnet.com )
- Juniper Networks (http://www.juniper.net)
A routing protocol is the method by which a router determines the best path to the destination. Here are some routing protocols.