What is a router?
Channel: internet-class
Date: 2016-09-08

Computers on the internet can be divided into two categories—​routers, andend-hosts. End-hosts are most of the computers you are familiar with. Routers, on the other hand, operate within the core of the internet. While end-hosts run higher-level protocols, routers typically only run the internet protocol. And while end-hosts would be familiar to you, routers are highly-specializedpieces of dedicated hardware. Their job is to one job and do it really well—​make choices for how to direct packets onward toward their destination.

Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).

Part of the https://www.internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (https://blue.cse.buffalo.edu) production.