Reitityskoneet

Reitityskoneet, known in English as routers, are essential networking devices that direct data traffic between computer networks. They operate at the network layer of the OSI model, making decisions about the best path for data packets to travel from their source to their destination. Routers examine the destination IP address of each packet and consult their routing tables to determine the next hop. These routing tables are dynamic and can be updated through various routing protocols, such as RIP, OSPF, and BGP, which allow routers to exchange information about network topology and available paths.

Home routers typically serve a dual purpose, acting not only as routers but also as network switches and wireless access points. They connect a local area network (LAN) to a wide area network (WAN), usually the internet. In larger enterprise networks, dedicated routers are used to connect different subnets, segments of the internal network, or to connect to other organizations' networks. The primary function remains the same: to intelligently forward data packets based on their destination addresses. Without routers, the internet as we know it, a vast interconnected network of networks, would not be possible. They are the backbone of modern communication infrastructure, enabling seamless data exchange across the globe.