Chapter 4. Routers and WANs
Routers are designed to interconnect multiple networks. This interconnection enables machines on different networks to communicate with each other. Interconnected networks can be colocated (as shown in Chapter 3, "Routers and LANs" ) or geographically dispersed. Networks that are geographically dispersed are usually interconnected via a wide-area network (WAN). WANs are constructed of numerous different technologies including routers, transmission facilities, and line drivers. It is the router's capability to interconnect networks in a WAN that has made it indispensable.
This chapter begins with an overview of the physical components and logical functions of a router as well as the various specialized roles a router ...
Get IP Routing Fundamentals now with the O’Reilly learning platform.
O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.
