Determine CPU and Memory

The importance of CPU and memory is significant for any device that processes information. This is especially significant for streamers, gaming, or high network traffic devices. In general, you want as little latency as possible in order to process information quickly. Processors are measured by their Instructions Per Second (IPS), which is determined by the frequency at which they process instructions (GHz). The higher this number is, the better it will be at processing information. Memory can also be measured in many ways and often determined by how much was paid for it (GB).

A router is a computer in a network that directs the packets of data from one network to another. It has two or more input ports and can have anything between one output port and multiple output ports. Routers are classified into two broad categories, which wired and wireless routers. In wired networks, computers are connected to each other using cables, so that all the information passes through the same medium, whereas in wireless networks computers communicate over radio waves for communication purposes only.

• Input Ports: It is the input port of a router. All the data packets that come into this port are further forwarded to the various output ports after going through various processing steps. The different types of input ports available in a router are Ethernet, FastEthernet, Token Ring, and analog modem ports.
• Ethernet Port: It is also referred to as “Network interface card” (NIC) or “I/O port”. Its main function is to connect stand-alone computers to a network. It has 10/100 Mb/s speed, and it can work in half-duplex or full-duplex mode. A router with one Ethernet port may be used for connecting different computers through a wired connection. A router with multiple Ethernet ports is much more desirable as it can connect more computers to a network.
• FastEthernet Port: It is a type of Ethernet port, which is much faster than an Ethernet port. Its speed may be 10/100 Mb/s or 100/1000 Mb/s. Fast Ethernet ports are used for connecting a LAN hub or switch to the router, which enables us to connect our computers to the router through LAN switches or hubs. The following figure explains how you can use a single fast Ethernet port in a router to connect up to 128 computers using hubs and switches.
• Token Ring Port: It is used to connect token ring networks to a router. Each token ring port has a four-pin RJ-45 connector. It has the same speed as an Ethernet port i.e., 10/100 Mb/s or 100/1000 Mb/s.
• Analog Modem Port: This type of port is used for connecting a modem to the router. It is also referred to as an external modem interface or RJ-11 connector. When you connect a modem to this port, the router will act as an Internet gateway and allow you to share Internet connectivity among users connected to the LAN of the router.