Router Functions
Determine optimum routing paths through a network
- Lowest delay
- Highest reliability
Transport packets through the network
- Examines destination address in packet
- Makes a decision on which port to forward the packet through
- Decision is based on the Routing Table
Interconnected Routers exchange routing tables in order to maintain a clear picture of the network
In a large network, the routing table updates can consume a lot of bandwidth
- a protocol for route updates is required