Routers
Routers, like hubs and switches, connect together multiple networks. Routers use headers and forwarding tables to create and send packets to determine the path through the networks and this means they operate at level 3, the network layer.
Gateways
Gateways are used to “interface with another network that uses different protocols.” This allows two different systems using two different protocols to work with each other. Gateways operate at all levels of the OSI model. Gateways can handle what can access the network and what cannot and helps to control the applications that require networks to run.
LAN Connectivity
Local Area Networks are very easily constructed with the use of these devices. LANs are quite easily created using; routers; hubs, switches, bridges; gateways and repeaters as well as UTP wiring.
The network consists of many devices. Depending on the purpose of the network; the devices attached to it will be different. A network that needs an external connection will include a router as this makes external access possible but Local Area Networks could use hubs, switches or bridges to connect parts of the network together. Gateways are also a possibility when connecting devices together that don’t necessarily know how to interface with each other.
Connectivity
Importance to Small Office, Medium Business and Large Company on a scale of 1 to 3.
Selecting Equipment
Choosing any type of network equipment is a very important decision. Each and every organisation and office will be unique in its requirements.
Speed
Speed is a necessity for some offices; usually those that rely heavily on the network for day to day activities. The more computers that are connected the network, the more bandwidth the equipment must be capable of providing. A single slow device on the network is going to slow down everything as networks are only capable of running at the speed of their slowest device so ensuring that all devices are capable of carrying the correct speeds.
Other networks are not going to need high speeds such as those that only connect just a few computers together, or those that will only connect to the network occasionally.
Size
The size of a device is not necessarily all that important for most businesses if they have the room to keep it. For a medium to large business, finding space to place your hardware is unlikely to be a major problem. Smaller businesses will usually have less space to place their hardware, particular the type of safe and secure space that is required by such important devices. Finding a device that is small enough to be stored but still fulfils other requirements is required.
Cost
The cost of a device is not going to be all that important to larger businesses; spending a lot of money on a useful device seems only natural. But when spending the vast majority of a network’s budget on a single device, cost definitely becomes a factor. It must be the right device and it must do the job it’s required to do but it should also be at the right cost to the business.
Connectivity
Connectivity is heavily dependent on the number of computers that are being connected as well as what services the network is trying to provide and how the devices are going to be connected.
The device that is eventually chosen must be a combination of the most important needs of the network. Placing a value on each of these factors should suggest the device that is needed.