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ou will sometimes see the term default gateway on network configuration screens in Microsoft Windows.

Answer: In computer networking, a default gateway is the device that passes traffic from the local subnet to devices on other subnets. The default gateway often connects a local network to the Internet, although internal gateways for local networks also exist.

Internet default gateways are typically one of two types:
* On home or small business networks with a broadband router to share the Internet connection, the home router serves as the default gateway.

* On home or small business networks without a router, such as for residences with dialup Internet access, a router at the Internet Service Provider location serves as the default gateway.

Default network gateways can also be configured using an ordinary computer instead of a router. These gateways use two network adapters, one connected to the local subnet and one to the outside network. Either routers or gateway computers can be used to network local subnets such as those in larger businesses.

In Microsoft Windows, the IP address of a computer's default gateway can be accessed in the 'ipconfig' or 'winipcfg' utilities (see sidebar).

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Posted by saqlain231

In telecommunications, the term gateway has the following meaning:

* In a communications network, a network node equipped for interfacing with another network that uses different protocols.
o A gateway may contain devices such as protocol translators, impedance matching devices, rate converters, fault isolators, or signal translators as necessary to provide system interoperability. It also requires the establishment of mutually acceptable administrative procedures between both networks.
o A protocol translation/mapping gateway interconnects networks with different network protocol technologies by performing the required protocol conversions.
* Loosely, a computer is configured to perform the tasks of a gateway. For a specific case, see default gateway.

Routers exemplify special cases of gateways.

Gateways, also called protocol converters, can operate at any layer of the OSI model. The job of a gateway is much more complex than that of a router or switch. Typically, a gateway must convert one protocol stack into another.

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Posted by waqasahmad

A network device used to provide access between different networks. For instance, a gateway may provide access into an external work such as the PSTN, the Internet, or a private WAN. A PSTN gateway LAN interface on the inside and a PRI Access transport line on the outs translates IP telephony frames from the LAN into circuit-switched POT! Fic for the PSTN and vice versa.

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Posted by Christ