A '''router''' is a [[computer]] device which aggregates the [[network]] needs of many computers, and distributes [[bandwidth]] from a central [[broadband]] connection.
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:''This article is about the network device for computers. For the woodworking tool, see'' [[Router (woodworking)]].
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A '''router''' is a [[computer]] device which aggregates the [[network]] needs of many computers, and distributes [[bandwidth]] from a central [[broadband]] connection. They are classified as layer-three devices on the [[OSI model]].<ref>http://techgenix.com/osi-reference-model-layer3-hardware</ref>
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[[Category:Computer Science]]
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A router works by having a unique address on each port and a map of the network in an internal table. The router reads a packet from an incoming port, looks it up in the table, and sends it out the appropriate port. Routers use IP addresses to communicate, and also to isolate broadcast traffic.
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There are a number of protocols for managing the network address tables of the routers.
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A bridge is similar to a router but no address table is used. All traffic in one port goes out the other port.