The connection of a LAN to a WAN is
achieved through a router; therefore, LANs can be segmented by
routers. The interface of a router, which resides on a LAN, is called
the default gateway.
The default gateway is the location where all non-local
network traffic that has no specific route to a destination is sent. The default
gateway acts as an entry and exit point of a
subnetwork.
When sending data to a remote
subnetwork, the host sends the packet to the initial router specified
as its default gateway. The router receives the packet,
then must determine whether the destination location is on one of its local networks
or send the data to another router for delivery.
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