Main Network Hardware’s Difference: Integrated Devices, Router, Network Switch & Firewall

If you are used to working with home networking gear, you will be used to an integrated device that “does it all”. On a home network, you may have one box that is a cable/DSL modem, router, firewall, switch, and wireless access point all in one. It is amazing all the functions they can fit into one box.

If you are studying Cisco networking and learning about how businesses use these devices, you may be wondering why there is so much importance on the differences between a switch, router, firewall, and other network devices. If the home user can have all these devices combined into one, why doesn’t the business user do this as well? So, now, here we try to find out what the main differences between these network devices.

Integrated devices

Just like home devices, business devices have become more and more consolidated over time but not to the extent that the home devices have. Network administrators in a business network are more comfortable having separate devices and even like the idea. This is because network administrators like to be able to isolate problems down to a certain device and they like to be able to know the performance capabilities of every device. If you use an integrated router, switch, and firewall all into one device, troubleshooting, managing, and understanding the performance capabilities of that device gets

How Router Interfaces get Their Names on Cisco Routers?

Why is your router’s Ethernet interface called Ethernet0/0 on one router but Ethernet 3/0 on another router? Where do these names come from? This tutorial will explain how Cisco router interfaces get their names.

Where do Router Interfaces get Their Names?

Router interfaces get their names when the router boots. A “device discovery” takes place and the names of the interfaces are generated based on a predicable method. On fixed interface routers (like the older 2500 series routers) the interfaces will always be the same. However, on newer routers like 2600, 3600, 3700, and Cisco 2800 series routers, interfaces can be modular. That means that the interfaces are cards (modules) that can be “plugged into” the router in different slots. Some of these interfaces are on WAN interface cards (WIC) and some are on Network Modules (NM). Other router interfaces will be built right onto the router. The newer model routers have different names for some of these slots like enhanced network modules (NME) and high-speed WIC (HWIC). However, for the purposes

Four Modes to Access and Configure a Cisco Router

Cisco IOS Command Summary—Four Modes to Access and Configure a Cisco Router

The four modes for accessing and configuring a Cisco router are: user EXEC mode, privileged EXEC mode, global configuration mode, interface configuration mode

Each mode has a unique command set.

Purpose of each Mode

user EXEC mode is the initial startup mode.  A router configuration session can be initiated using terminal emulation programs such as Kermit, HyperTerminal, or telnet. 

privileged EXEC mode is the system administrator mode.  In this mode configuration files can be read, the router can be rebooted, and operating parameters can be changed.

global configuration mode is used to modify system-wide configuration parameters, such as routing tables and routing algorithms.

interface configuration mode is used to modify the Ethernet and serial port configurations.