V-MAGIC

Router

Created by : Venu Singh

A router sends information along a route—a path—between two networks

Router
WHAT IS A ROUTER?

A router is a device in computer networking that forwards data packets to their

destinations, based on their addresses. The work a router does it called routing, which is
somewhat like switching, but a router is different from a switch. Router connects different
networks, mostly plays an important role in routing of long distance networks.

Routers are found at every level in the Internet. Routers in access networks
allow homes and small businesses to connect to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Routers in
enterprise networks link tens of thousands of computers within a campus or enterprise. Routers
in the backbone are not usually directly accessible to end-systems.

Front view of Cisco Router:

Rear Panel of Cisco router

Router works on 3rd layer of OSI model i.e. Network Layer

Layer 7 Application Layer

Layer 6 Presentation Layer
Layer 5 Session Layer Gateway
Layer 4 Transport Layer
Layer 3 Network Layer Router
Layer 2 Data Link Layer Switch
Layer 1 Physical Layer Software & Hardware

OSI Model Layer Diagram

1. Router is a dedicated computer system

1.1. Have both LAN and WAN interfaces.

1.2. To segment or interconnect LANs.

2. Routers are the backbone devices of large intranets and of the Internet.

3. Operate at Layer 3 of the OSI model, making decisions based on network addresses.

4. Two main functions of routers are selection of best path and switching of packets to the
proper interface.

5. Routers accomplish this by building routing tables and exchanging information with other
routers

HOW ROUTER WORKS:

In a nutshell, routers do exactly what their name says: They route data from a LAN to
another router, then another router, and so on until data is received at its destination. Routers
also act as traffic cops, allowing only authorized machines to transmit data into the local
network so that private information can remain secure. In addition to supporting these dial-in
and leased connections, routers also handle errors, keep network usage statistics, and handle
security issues.
Architechture Components of a router:
A generic router has four components (Shown in below figure 1)

1. Input ports
2. Output ports
3. Switching fabric
4. Routing processor

Input port: An input port is the point of attachment for a physical link and is the point of entry
for incoming packets. Ports are instantiated on line cards, which typically support 4, 8, or 16
ports.

Output port: An output port stores packets and schedules them for service on an output link.

Switching Fabric: The most common switch fabric technologies in use today are busses,
crossbars, and shared memories. The switching fabric interconnects input ports with output ports.

Routing processor: the routing processor participates in routing protocols and creates a
forwarding table that is used in packet forwarding
Router ports:

1. The three basic types of connections on a router are (as shown in above figure)

a. LAN interfaces

b. WAN interfaces

c. Management ports.

2. The LAN and WAN connections provide network connections through which frame
packets are passed.

3. The management ports provides a text-based connection for the configuration and
troubleshooting of the router

WAN Ports:

Serial and BRI are the two ports for WAN connectivity. This Port is used to connecting
one Router to another Router.

LAN Ports:
 Fast Ethernet, Ethernet are types of ports for LAN connection. This Port is used for
connecting Router to Switch.

Administrative Ports:

Console (CON) and Auxiliary (AUX) are the two ports for configuring the Router. So these ports
are called as administrative ports.

1. These are EIA-232 asynchronous serial ports.

2. The computer must run a terminal emulation program to provide a text-based session
with the router. Through this session the network administrator can manage the device.

3. The console port is recommended for this initial configuration.

a. The CON port is preferred over the AUX port for troubleshooting. This is because
it displays router startup, debugging, and error messages by default.

b. The console port can be used for disaster and password recovery procedures.

4. Once the initial configuration is entered through the CON or AUX port, the router can be
connected to the network for troubleshooting or monitoring

NETWORKING DEVICES:
-Repeater

-Hub

-Switch

-Bridge

-Router

REPEATER:

It is a Layer 1 device, it regenerates the signal. Single port device, Analog and Digital are
two types of Repeater.

HUB:

It is layer 1 device, multiport device. Broadcasting device means data transfers from one
port to all the remaining ports. It is also called as multiport Repeater. It has minimum 4 ports and
maximum 24 ports. Active, Passive, Manageable, Hybrid hub are four types of hubs.

Switch:

It is layer 2, layer 3 device. It is Accepts incoming data from one port and forwarding to
correct outgoing port, this process is called as switching. This process is done based on MAC
address. Switch is a Unicast device. It has minimum 8 ports and maximum 48 ports. Layer 3 is
Manageable switch.

Bridge:

The bridge is used to segment a network, holding back the frames intended for the local
area network while transmitting those meant for other networks. This reduces traffic (and
especially collisions) on all networks, and increases the level of privacy. It is a layer 2 device.
Router:

Router enables connection between two different networks .It is a layer 3 devices. Router
is a WAN connectivity device.

Network Diagram with Router:

Above structure explains how connections are made between different networks using Router.

ROUTER COMPONENTS:

 ROM

 RAM

 FLASH

 NVRAM

1. ROM (READ ONLY MEMORY):

  Post

 Boot Strap

 Mini IOS.

 Post:
Power on self test port is the series of diagnostics test for Router. Post has 14
sequences in the Router
 Boot Strap:
Boot Strap is a programme which initializes Microprocessor for booting. Boot
Strap loads IOS image from NVRAM.
 IOS:
Internetwork Operating System. It is Operating System for Routers.

2. RAM (RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY):

RAM temporarily stores instructions required by Microprocessor.

3. NVRAM:

NVRAM is Non Volatile Random Access Memory. It consists stat up

Configuration for the Router. NVRAM takes the OS from Flash and given to RAM for
booting.

4. FLASH:

It is a Non volatile memory. It consists of IOS image. It is consider as hard disk of

the router.

1. Flash memory is used for storage of a full Cisco IOS software image .

a. Some early version of IOS has a size of 16Mbytes

b. Normally acquires the default IOS from flash memory. Flash is

programmable
 c. Allows updating of IOS software without replacing the ROM chip

d. These images can be upgraded by loading a new image into flash.

e. Retained on power down

f. Multiple versions of IOS can be stored

2. Flash is relatively slow

a. In most routers an executable copy of the IOS is transferred to RAM during

the boot process.

b. similar to boot from Hard disk

c. In other routers the IOS may be run directly from flash

Router BOOT Process:

1. Router performs Post

A.Checks hardware – POST

2. Boot Strap Program is loaded and executed

A. Loads bootstrap

I. A bootstrap is a simple set of instructions that tests hardware and

initializes the IOS for operation.

3. Boot strap loads configuration file into RAM

A. Loads operating system

i.
The location is disclosed in the boot field of the configuration register.
ii.
When it is loaded and operational, the operating system locates the
hardware and software components and lists the results on the console
terminal.
B. Loads configuration file

i. The configuration file saved in NVRAM is loaded into main memory

and executed one line at a time.

ii. Start routing processes, supply addresses for interfaces

 C. Set up mode

i. Should use setup to bring up a minimal configuration

Startup process of Cisco router

ROUTER LED indicators:

1. If a LED is off when the interface is active and is correctly connected, a problem may
be indicated.
2. If an interface is extremely busy, its LED will always be on.
3. The green OK LED to the right of the AUX port will be on after the system initializes
correctly.
 LED location on router rear panel

FUNCTIONS OF ROUTER:

 Routing

 Switching

 Best Path selection

 Packet filtering

1. Routing:

It is ability of Router to forward packets from one network to another.

2. Switching:

Router accepts incoming packets and forwards correct outgoing port

3. Best Path selection:

When Router has multiple paths to forward packets than Router selects best
path to reach destinations for packets based on traffic, distance and bandwidth.

4. Packet filtering:

Router checks the packets whether they are corrupted or not and they belongs
to that destination or not.

TYPES OF ROUTERS:

 Modular Router

 Fixed Router
Modular Router:

It has Expansion slots. If ports are not working we can replace ports by replacing
expansion cards.

Fixed Router:

In this Router ports cannot be removed. All the ports are fixed to the Router.