this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2024
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A router usually can do all that but it also does a whole lot more, like NAT, DHCP, etc. Sometimes you need a just a switch that understands VLANs and link aggregation
A router is often just a switch with extra steps.
Yeah the line can get pretty ambiguous. In general I try to use the device with the least complexity that still gets the job done
So a router simply connects the WAN with the LAN. But doesn't the modem do that?
No, a modem modulates and demodulates a signal. Basically, they're a converter. For example, to send your Ethernet traffic over coax. They don't often understand or care about what's in an Ethernet frame.
Thank you
Isn't there some overlap between NAT, DHCP and DNS, they feel like they should be the same thing? Or am I oversimplifying it? Because DHCP is assigning IP addresses, DNS is looking up IP addresses and NAT is saying that IP address points there 👉🏾
Absolutely no overlap. Now, can a conventional home router do all those? Typically NAT and DHCP, but not too often DNS (except to point at a real DNS). That's like saying "isn't there overlap between milk and eggs? I mean, sure, they deal with animals and stored in the fridge, but used for different purposes."
Sure, they deal with IP addresses and some devices (home routers) can do 2-3 of those fuctions, but that doesn't mean they overlap. I can read a book (IP) and my book (IP) can be stored in a book bag or on a book shelf, but that doesn't mean myself, the bookbag, and the bookshelf overlap.
Thank you