WHAT IS A COMPUTER NETWORK?
A computer network is a group of computers that use a set of common communication protocols over digital interconnections for the purpose of sharing resources located on or provided by the network nodes.
NETWORK TYPES
What are the 4 types of networks?A computer network is mainly of four types:
- LAN(Local Area Network)
- PAN(Personal Area Network)
- MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)
- WAN(Wide Area Network)
WHAT IS NETWORKING?
Networking, also known as computer networking, is the practice of transporting and exchanging data between nodes over a shared medium in an information system. Networking comprises not only the design, construction and use of a network, but also the management, maintenance and operation of the network infrastructure, software and policies.
Computer networking enables devices and endpoints to be connected to each other on a local area network (LAN) or to a larger network, such as the internet or a private wide area network (WAN). This is an essential function for service providers, businesses and consumers worldwide to share resources, use or offer services, and communicate. Networking facilitates everything from telephone calls to text messaging to streaming video to the internet of things (IoT)
WHAT IS A GATEWAY
Basically, a gateway is a device that connects networks using different communication protocols in a way that allows for information to pass from one network to the other. It both transfers and converts the information into a form that can be used by the protocols on the receiving network. Think of it as a TCP/IP node that has routing capabilities. In other words, a gateway is a kind of router. A router, by definition, is a device or computer that sends packets between two or more network segments as necessary, using logical network addresses, most often IP addresses. The default gateway is the path used to pass information when the device doesn’t know where the destination is. More directly, a default gateway is a router that connects your host to remote network segments. It’s the exit point for all the packets in your network that have destinations outside your network.
What is a default gateway?
Put simply, a default gateway is a node that enables a seamless connection between networks, allowing one machine to talk to another machine on a different network. It’s called a ‘default’ gateway because it is the first and default route taken unless another option is actively requested.
The most common use for the default gateway is to gain access to a webpage, where the request will be sent via the gateway before going on to the internet. Another key use is connecting devices on one subnet with devices on another, with the default gateway acting as an intermediary.
Default gateways are essentially routing systems that ensure the request is sent to the right destination, even if the sender and receiver use different network protocols.
The device sending the request is the ‘originating device’, and as part of the process, the device will send out an access request using a routing table. This determines the most efficient route to send the request, and what the router should be. The default gateway receives any request that doesn’t have a specific router identified, ensuring data can still flow.
What is the difference between Gateway and Router?
A gateway serves as a single access point and a converter to connect dissimilar networks using different protocols, while a router sets the shortest path for the data packets to travel from source to destination.
How to find the default gateway’s IP address
You’ll need to locate the default gateway’s IP Address in order to troubleshoot any issues with your network or when you need to gain access to your router’s web-based management tool. Without the default gateway’s IP address, you won’t be able to uncover issues with your network.
Thankfully, finding the default gateway address is a pretty simple process. If using Windows, just head to the Network and Sharing Center from the Control Panel, and choose either Change adapter options or Change adapter settings. Now, find the network you want to find the default gateway for. Double click on the connection, select “Details” from the pop up and you’ll find the IPV4 Default Gateway in the list.
Following are the advantages of using a Gateway:
It can connect the devices of two different networks having dissimilar structures. It is an intelligent device with filtering capabilities. It has control over both collisions as well as a broadcast domain. It uses a full-duplex mode of communication.
