What are the advantages of using dedicated hardware devices for routers and gateways? What are the disadvantages of using these devices compared with using general-purpose computers?
The advantages are that dedicated hardware dex rices for routers and gateways are very fast a all their logic is provided in hardware (firmware.) Using a general-purpose computer for a router or gateway means that routing functionality is provided in software-which is not as fast as providing the functionality directly in hardware.A disadvantage is that routers or gateways as dedicated devices may be more costly than using off-the-shelf components that comprise a modem personal computer.
The advantages are that dedicated hardware dex rices for routers and gateways are very fast a all their logic is provided in hardware (firmware.) Using a general-purpose computer for a router or gateway means that routing functionality is provided in software-which is not as fast as providing the functionality directly in hardware.A disadvantage is that routers or gateways as dedicated devices may be more costly than using off-the-shelf components that comprise a modem personal computer.