Introduction; What Does A Router Do - ELSA LANCOM Business LC-4X00 Manual

Introduction

1
Introduction
The current use of modern communication is making Internet and Intranet applications
more and more important for companies in various industries. Online services are
increasingly being used for professional purposes. Company branch offices are being
interconnected to enable fast communications between different sites, and
telecommuting is gaining increasing importance.
All these applications are making the use of ISDN router solutions more attractive than
ever. ISDN routers from ELSA connect local networks with the Internet and act as a
communications center for handling fax and voice mail services in small and medium-
sized companies.
The routers also connect local networks with other LANs (Local Area Networks) and
provide access to company data via their remote access function.

What does a router do?

A router connects local networks (LANs) and individual PCs to form a Wide Area Network
(WAN). This allows any computer in this WAN to access the computers and services on
the entire network, depending on its access privileges. The router does this by seeking
out a path over which data can be exchanged between the computers. This path is
available in the form of an ISDN connection.
Connection to the Internet is a particularly widespread form of network connection. If
the local network in a company is connected with the network of an Internet service
provider, all computers in the LAN will be able to access the services and sites on the
World Wide Web.
But routers are capable of more. Using a special interface called the ELSA LANCAPI ,
modern office communications functions such as fax, telephone answering machine,
online banking etc. can be provided on the entire local network. The corresponding
communications programs forward their data via the LANCAPI to the router which then
takes care of the data transmission. Equipping the individual workstations with their
own data communications equipment—a costly, high-maintenance scenario—thus
becomes superfluous.
The router is incorporated into the network in the same way as any normal PC. Any data
traveling on the network cable, therefore, is seen by the router, too. It automatically
determines whether or not the data needs to be transmitted to another network. If
necessary, it establishes the connection to the destination network. Of course, a
dedicated line does away with the process of establishing a connection.
When precisely should the router be used?
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