![]() ![]() It might be standalone piece of hardware, or built into the router itself. What we call a hardware firewall is a security appliance that sits between the modem and the router. In the modern networking vernacular, there’s significant overlap between the feature set of what are called UTMs and firewalls, and what some vendors designate as a web security gateway.įirst, the basics. Today’s web security gateways are actually firewallsįor our intents and purposes, distinguishing between a firewall and a web security gateway is probably the more useful part of this narrative if you’re interested in securing a network for a place of business. A gateway can be used like a router to reduce network traffic, but routers are much better at that. Since subnetworks and virtual networks within a LAN are not dissimilar networks, we wouldn’t say the router is acting as a gateway in this regard. This gives endpoints on the network more direct lines of communication, reducing the amount of traffic flowing across the network as a whole, which serves overall performance and has security benefits. In a business setting, IT administrators configure routers to segment traffic on the company network. This is why routers have two IP addresses. A simple four-port wireless router has two network interface cards (NIC)-one connects to the WAN port running out to the modem, and one or multiple internal NICs for the ports and wireless antennas. So, like a gateway modem, a router regulates network traffic between two or several separate networks. Shown here: LINKSYS LRT214 Business Gigabit VPN Router When is a router not a gateway? This makes the router a gateway between two networks.īusiness-class rotuers are gateways and also firewalls. A router in and of itself is also a gateway-routers receive signal from the WAN and directs it across the LAN. Your one-piece modem-router? That is a gateway. Historically, a gateway is any hardware that regulates network traffic between two separate networks. Today’s broadband connections involve different technology, but the term “modem” was etched in the collective consciousness as the device that connects our computers to the big WAN (the internet), so we kept it. ![]() In fact, from a strict technical interpretation it’s a gateway more so than a “modem,” which is actually an outdated term.Īs a computer term, “modem” is short for “modulator-demodulator.” Modems demodulate the analog signal from a telephone line into digital information that could be consumed by computers, and retransmitted-modulated back into analog-back over phone lines. ![]() High-speed cable modems have a coaxial input, and one or more RJ-45 Ethernet output. This legacy definition of a gateway is still valid. Since gateways and modem routers combine the functionality of a modem and a router, only one device is required to achieve the same result.ARRIS SBG6580 SURFboard Wireless Cable Modem Gateway When your home network uses a modem-router combination device or a gateway, it talks directly to the Internet Service Provider to connect you to the internet and enable a Wi-Fi connection. A modem will give local Internet access to a single device, but requires a router to connect multiple devices via Wi-Fi. In the traditional home network chain of command, the router talks to the modem which talks to the internet service provider, resulting in an internet connection and Wi-Fi. The primary benefit to using a modem router or gateway is the simplicity of only having a single device to set up. Modems and routers can be combined into a single box, and gateway is another term for a combined modem router. The router’s main function is to create and send out the Internet Wi-Fi signal in your home. RouterĪ router is works with your modem to join networks together and allow multiple devices like phones, tablets and computers to use a single network through a wired or wireless connection. It acts as a digital translator, taking an information signal (Internet data) from your cable or phone lines and making it accessible to your computer. Before we get into the differences between modems, routers, gateways and modem routers, let’s review what each device does.Ī modem is a small box that connects your household to the Internet using cables. Have you ever fallen down the research rabbit hole as you look into all your home networking options? It can be confusing to navigate what all the terminology means and how it will work for you.
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