Router
A Layer 3 device that forwards packets between different networks based on IP addresses.
A router is a Layer 3 device that uses IP addresses to forward packets between distinct networks, maintaining a routing table that maps destination prefixes to outgoing interfaces or next-hop addresses. Unlike a switch, which forwards frames within a single broadcast domain using MAC addresses, a router creates a boundary between broadcast domains, stopping broadcasts from propagating across segments. On the N10-009 exam, distinguish static routing, where an admin manually enters routes, from dynamic protocols such as OSPF or EIGRP, which automatically exchange routing information. Also contrast routers with Layer 3 switches, which route in hardware optimized for high-speed intra-network traffic rather than WAN edge connections.
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