For Ethernet, the largest packet size is predetermined, and there is no maximum length requirement for Token Ring. Routers have the capability to fragment the packet into multiple packets of identical size and then reassemble them at the remote end. This process, which consists of destroying packets that have traveled too long or through too many routers, prevents defective packets from congesting the network. The router may inform the originating station that the packet has been destroyed. Logical separation of network segments is another capability of routers.
Routers give network managers the ability to define boundaries for administrative control.
Using a hierarchical addressing scheme, a network manager is able to divide a large internetwork into small administrative domains. This separation may also help to reduce network load by keeping local traffic confined to its own sub network. By adding a high-speed backbone, performance of the network may be increased. By placing servers and routers directly on the FDDI backbone, and connecting hubs to the routers, the backbone is less congested with traffic and work groups receive responses more rapidly. Adding a Collapsed Backbone A collapsed router backbone takes advantage of routers with a high-speed backplane, which allows packets to travel at 2 gigabits per second.