Routers

What is a Router?

A router is a network hardware device that manages network traffic between the Internet and a wide variety of client devices, both wired and wireless. A router forwards data packets between computer networks and performs the traffic directing functions on the Internet.

Routers are generally divided into three categories, consumer, business, and enterprise level. Consumer or home office routers primarily communicate between the internet and home computing devices. These routers typically integrate many network solutions into one device for the home user. Business and enterprise routers do not usually include integrated wireless access points but provide higher speed ports and higher pps (packet per second) speeds for data transfer. Enterprise routers also provide the most scalable, redundant solutions with most robust security features in addition to the highest speeds.

Features & Capabilities

Consumer router features

• Wi-Fi access point - The router creates a WLAN by projecting a Wi-Fi signal to a designated area

• Integrated antennas

• Quality of Service (QoS) - This capability serves to prioritize network traffic from the router to a client

• USB ports for printers or drives - Enable multiple users to share single resources, such as a printer or storage drive

• Guest networks - Set up a separate access level for guests with a separate password and restricted access

• Malware and spam protection - Having malware at the router level can help catch viruses and spam before it reaches the client computer

• Firewall

• Parental Controls

Business and enterprise router features

• Enhanced security features

• Virtual LANs and multiple SSIDs - Set up separate networks with varying permissions, dedicated ethernet channels, and separate SSIDs (service set identifier) for each VLAN

• VPN Capabilities - A virtual private network (VPN) allows users to securely access your network while working remotely

• Dual or backup WAN port - Allows you to have backup internet in case of a failure

• Multiple ethernet or optical ports

• PoE (Power over Ethernet) support

Pricing Information

As with most pieces of hardware, there is a large price range depending on the amount of features and level of security required. Consumer routers can easily be purchased between $50 and $300. Business routers range from $400 to $2,000 while enterprise level routers can cost well over $50,000.