Router Model

LAN Environment

Router Model

The term router is also referred to as an intermediate system, gateway, or packet switch. These devices use the network layer information to route packets from a source to a destination on a different LAN. To route packets through the network accurately and efficiently, each router must have some knowledge about the entire network topology. Usually this information can be limited to knowing the network addresses and router IDs of the routers on the network. A variety of routing protocols have been developed to coordinate the exchange of the router information and for determining the "best" paths through a network. The netWorks application currently supports two routing protocols.

The architecture of a Router model is shown in Figure 4.13, and sample Router model controls are presented in Figure 4.14.

Figure 4.13: Router Model Architecture

Figure 4.14: Sample Router Model Controls

As with the Bridge model, Router memory values are configurable but are not used during a simulation. You can use the Routing Protocols list box in combination with the

button to select and tune the routing protocol specifics for a Router model. The "Network Layer" section of Appendix A, "Protocols," provides details on routing protocols. Note that, while you can change the routing protocol for each individual model, every Router and Computing Device model must be running the same routing protocol for the simulation to run properly.

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