what's the purpose of "router"?

Answer 1

A router acts as a junction between two or more networks to transfer data packets among them. A router is different from a switch. A switch connects devices to form a Local area network (LAN).

One easy illustration for the different functions of routers and switches is to think of switches as neighborhood streets, and the router as the intersections with the street signs. Each house on the street has an address within a range on the block. In the same way, a switch connects various devices each with their own IP address(es) on a LAN.

However, the switch knows nothing about IP addresses except its own management address. Routers connect networks together the way that on-ramps or major intersections connect streets to both highways and freeways, etc. The street signs at the intersection (routing table) show which way the packets need to flow.

So for example, a router at home connects the Internet Service Provider's (ISP) network (usually on an Internet address) together with the LAN in the home (typically using a range of private IP addresses, see network address translation) and a single broadcast domain. The switch connects devices together to form the LAN. Sometimes the switch and the router are combined together in one single package sold as a multiple port router.

In order to route packets, a router communicates with other routers using routing protocols and using this information creates and maintains a routing table. The routing table stores the best routes to certain network destinations, the "routing metrics" associated with those routes, and the path to the next hop router. See the routing article for a more detailed discussion of how this works.

Routing is most commonly associated with the Internet Protocol, although other less-popular routed protocols are in use.

Answer 2

A router is used to split an internet signal.
For instance your internet company gets a line coming directly into your house. You can hook up one computer to this line. If you want to have more computers on the same internet connection a router will make that one IP address become as many as you should need. (each computer needs it's own IP)

Also routers can be wireless so that if you may have wireless internet.

Hope this helps,
Jason

Answer 3

A router routes "packets" of data to any of several computers in a network. Each computer has a unique address which allows the router to send it only data detected to that computer. Routers sometimes also provide protection against malicious intrusion by acting as a firewall.

Answer 4

A router helps to connect two or more networks together, and helps for transfers and it also helps protect you against viruses and things like that. If someone were to try and look up your computer, and your IP address, the router, if hooked up properly, would give them a wrong IP address...so it saves you from your computer possibly getting hacked.

Answer 5

You can use a router to share an internet connection among different computers. You can also use it to share files among the PCs because it forms a network.

Answer 6

A router - routes input from an outside source to one or more computers in your network.

Answer 7

to have more then one computer running off the same cable/dsl line, you can have several comp. in your house with a router

Answer 8

The have internet sharing, to prevent some type of virus and malware.

Answer 9

it lets you make shareable for file transfer and internet.