• Adventure
  • Auto
  • Culture
  • Entertainment
  • Home & Garden
  • Money
  • Science
  • Tech
  • Video
  • Shows
  • Blogs
  • Quizzes
  • Games
  • Random Article
  • Computer
  • Electronics
  • Home > 
  • Tech > 
  • Computer > 
  • Computer Hardware > 
  • Networking

by Curt Franklin

Print
Cite This!
Close 
Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article:

Franklin, Curt.  "How Routers Work"  31 July 2000.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://computer.howstuffworks.com/router.htm>  11 February 2012.
Cite
Feedback

Future of Computers

Watch now
Watch now
Inside this Article
  1. Introduction to How Routers Work
  2. Keeping the Messages Moving
  3. Directing Traffic
  1. Transmitting Packets
  2. The Path of a Packet
  3. Routing Packets: An Example
  4. See more »
    1. Knowing Where to Send Data
    2. Logical Addresses
    3. MAC Addresses
    4. Understanding the Protocols
    5. Tracing a Message
    6. Denial of Service Attacks
    7. Backbone of the Internet
    8. Lots More Information
    9. See all Networking articles

Lots More Information

Related HowStuffWorks Articles

  • Router Quiz
  • Internet Quiz
  • Web Server Quiz
  • How Routing Algorithms Work
  • How Firewalls Work
  • How LAN Switches Work
  • How Web Servers Work
  • How Ethernet Works
  • How Network Address Translation Works
  • How Internet Infrastructure Works
  • How Home Networking Works
  • How Virtual Private Networks Work
  • How OSI Works
  • How SCSI Works
  • What is a packet?
  • Quiz Corner: WiFi Quiz

More Great Links

  • Routing in the Internet
  • Hardware Router Backgrounder
  • CNET Builder.com
  • Cisco White Paper: Wavelength Routing in Optical Networks
  • Mixed Media Router
  • Cisco: Router Configuration Tutorial
  • Cisco: CCNA WAN Switching Certification
  • Router Comparison Chart
  • Hardware Router Reviews
  • Linksys Etherfast Cable/DSL Router Review
Previous Page

Popular Tech Topics

The Ultimate Computer History Quiz
The Ultimate Computer History Quiz
Top 5 Myths About the Internet
Top 5 Myths About the Internet
How to Connect Your Computer to Your TV
How to Connect Your Computer to Your TV
How Capacitors Work
How Capacitors Work
How Cloud Computing Works
How Cloud Computing Works
Take a look at Computer Videos

You Might Also Like

What causes laptop batteries to overheat?

Dell, Apple and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that several lithium-ion laptop batteries could short-circuit, causing an explosion or a fire. Find out why.

How Coby Tablets Work

Coby's tablets offer users a low-cost alternative to other tablet models out there, but how do they stack up, feature-wise? We'll examine Coby's lineup in this article.

Popular Articles

  • 10 iPad Apps for Teaching Kids to Read
  • What's another name for FireWire?
  • How to take a Screenshot on a Mac
Inside this Article
  1. Introduction to How Routers Work
  2. Keeping the Messages Moving
  3. Directing Traffic
  4. Transmitting Packets
  5. The Path of a Packet
  6. Routing Packets: An Example
  7. Knowing Where to Send Data
  8. Logical Addresses
  1. MAC Addresses
  2. Understanding the Protocols
  3. Tracing a Message
  4. Denial of Service Attacks
  5. Backbone of the Internet
  6. Lots More Information
  7. See all Networking articles
Previous Page

Popular Tech Videos

FPO
  • Cell Phone Tricks
  • Electronics Deconstructed
  • Ultimate Computer Hardware
  • How It's Made
  • Its All Geek To Me
  • See more»

New HSW Games

FPO
  • Storm Tracker
  • Memory Matrix
  • Crab Fishing Game
  • Volcano Explorer
  • Cannon Challenge
  • Speed Match
  • Lost in Migration
  • Word Bubbles
  • Color Match

Related Content

Prices: Wireless Routers

  • D-Link DIR-655/RE Xtreme N Wireless Router Refurbished
    D-Link DIR-655/RE Xtreme N Wireless Router Refurbished

    Pre-802.11n

    $56.99 - $56.99

  • Linksys 16-Port 10/100 VPN Router
    Linksys 16-Port 10/100 VPN Router

    Functionalities: Firewall, DHCP Server, Firewall: Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), URL Filtering, IP Filtering, Wireless Security: MD5, DES

    $328.31 - $511.87

  • D-link (DIR-412) Wireless Router
    D-link (DIR-412) Wireless Router

    54 Mbps, Pre-802.11n, Functionalities: Cable Modem, LAN: 10/100Base-TX, Firewall: Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), MAC Address Filtering, NAT, Wireless Security: WPA, WPA2, WEP 64-bit, WEP 128-bit, WEP: 40 bit (=64 bit), 128 bit

    $79.99 - $108.81

HOWSTUFFWORKS
  • Adventure
  • Auto
  • Culture
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Home & Garden
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Science
  • Tech
MORE STUFF
  • Blogs
  • Games
  • HSW Tools
  • RSS
  • Maps
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Newsletters
  • Video
OUR WEBSITES
  • Animal Planet
  • Consumer Guide Auto
  • Consumer Guide Products
  • Discovery Channel
  • Discovery Fit & Health
  • HSW Brazil
  • HSW China HowStuffWorks China
  • Investigation Discovery
  • Oprah Winfrey Network
  • Planet Green
  • Science Channel
  • TLC
  • Discovery Education
  • Store
CUSTOMER SERVICE
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Help
CORPORATE
  • About Us
  • Careers @ Discovery
  • Privacy Policy
  • Visitor Agreement
TAKE US WITH YOU
FOLLOW US
© 1998-2012 HowStuffWorks, Inc