Võrgurutteri

Võrgurouter, often referred to as a network router, is a crucial piece of networking hardware that directs data packets between computer networks. It operates at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model and is responsible for determining the most efficient paths for data to travel across interconnected networks, such as the internet.

A võrgurouter connects at least two networks, typically a local area network (LAN) to a wider area network (WAN) like the internet. When a device on a LAN sends data to a destination outside its local network, the data packet is sent to the võrgurouter. The router examines the destination IP address of the packet and consults its routing table, which is a set of rules that dictates how to forward packets. Based on this information, the võrgurouter forwards the packet to the next hop on its journey towards the final destination.

Võrgurouterid are essential for internet connectivity, allowing multiple devices within a home or office to share a single internet connection. They perform Network Address Translation (NAT), which allows private IP addresses used within a LAN to be mapped to a single public IP address for external communication. Modern võrgurouterid also often include additional functionalities such as Wi-Fi access points, firewalls for security, and Quality of Service (QoS) features to prioritize certain types of network traffic.