What exactly does a router?
Routers work much like bridges, but they pay attention to the upper network layer protocols (OSI layer 3) rather than physical layer (OSI layer 1) protocols. A router will decide whether to forward a packet by looking at the protocol level addresses (for instance, TCP/IP addresses) rather than the MAC address. Because routers work at layer 3 of the OSI stack, it is possible for them to transfer packets between different media types (i.e., leased lines, Ethernet, token ring, X.25, Frame Relay and FDDI). Many routers can also function as bridges.
Related Questions
- When I have a static route and RIP configured on a router, why is it that the static route with an administrative distance of 1 is preferred over RIP routes with an administrative distance of 120?
- When an active router tracks serial 0 and the serial line goes down, how does the standby router know to become active?
- Is it possible to run HSRP and OSPF together on the backbone router?
