4-Port ADSL Router User Manual

ONFIGURING

IP R

OUTES

You can use the Configuration Manager to define specific routes

for your Internet and network data. This section describes basic

routing concepts and provides instructions for creating routes.

Note:

Most users do not need to define IP routes.

Overview of IP Routes

The essential challenge of a router is: when it receives data intended

for a particular destination, which device should it send that data

to? When you define IP routes, you provide the rules that a computer

uses to make these decisions.

IP routing versus telephone switching

IP routing decisions are similar to those made by switchboards

that handle telephone calls.

When you dial a long distance telephone number, you are first

connected to a switchboard operated by your local phone service

carrier. All calls you initiate go first to this main switchboard.

If the phone number you dialed is outside your calling area, the

switchboard opens a connection to a higher-level switchboard for

long distance calls. That switchboard looks at the area code you

dialed and connects you with another switchboard that serves

that area. This new switchboard, in turn, may look at the prefix

in the number you dialed (the middle set of three numbers) and

connect to a more localized switchboard that handles numbers

with that prefix. This final switchboard can then look at the last

four digits of the phone number to open a connection with the

person or company you dialed.