Why would I use a gateway over a router?
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=computers+gateway+vs+router&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=images
I'm just remembering back to my years of study YEARS ago...so I might be inaccurate with this a little. It has been a while since I talked about this stuff or even thought about it much, but I think the general ideas are right.
Generally speaking, you might not need to know the difference. In this case, however, I assume it's a homework question (since it is on this board) so here goes. I'll try to give the best general idea.
As a general rule, it makes no difference in a home network that is small. However, in a larger network, there may be many subnets connected with routers. All those routers then get connected to a gateway that allows them all access to the internet. This is especially true if the different subnets use different communication protocols.
A router can basically work like an elevator in a building. It can take you to different places within that network, but it cannot take you to other networks. A gateway is like the front door to a building. It allows access outside to a wide variety of networks.
On smaller networks, a router will work fine as a gateway to the internet company you've signed up with.
A gateway and a router are two different network devices that serve different purposes. The choice between using a gateway or a router depends on your specific networking needs.
A router is a device that connects multiple networks and enables communication between them. It operates at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model and typically routes traffic based on IP addresses. Routers are commonly used in home or office networks to share a single internet connection among multiple devices. They also provide features like network security, network management, and Quality of Service (QoS) functionality.
On the other hand, a gateway is a device that serves as an entrance or an exit point between two different networks. It acts as an intermediary between two networks by converting the protocols used in one network to the protocols used in the other network. Gateways operate at higher layers of the OSI model, such as the application layer (Layer 7) or the transport layer (Layer 4) depending on the specific use case.
Here are some scenarios where you might choose to use a gateway instead of a router:
1. Protocol conversion: If you have a network that uses one protocol (such as TCP/IP) and you need to connect it to another network that uses a different protocol (such as X.25 or SNA), you would use a gateway to handle the protocol translation.
2. Application-level integration: Gateways can be used to integrate different applications or services that operate at the application layer. For example, you might use a gateway to connect a Voice over IP (VoIP) system to a traditional telephone network.
3. Security and firewall functionality: Gateways can provide advanced security features, such as deep packet inspection, intrusion detection, and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), proxy servers, or VPN (Virtual Private Network) capabilities. These features can help protect your network from external threats.
In summary, while routers are typically used to connect networks and enable communication between them, gateways are more specialized devices that handle protocol translation, application-level integration, and advanced security features. The choice between using a gateway or a router depends on your specific networking requirements and the functionalities you need for your network.