Before going to ahead this article, you must know about what is router in networking with their types.
In this section, we will spread the light on various advantages and disadvantages of router in Computer networking and applications of router as well.

Advantages of Router
There are various benefits of router in the networking; below explain each one such as –
Enhance Productivity: Main aim of using the router is to share the one network connection along with the different types of local or remotely machines. So, multiple users are capable to make connection to the internet so that productivity can enhance. A router can also allows to link the different types of network architectures and medias.
Protection: while using of router, first point is going to ahead security over the network connection. If, you want to try to connect internet directly with modem then your computer system can get various threats. So, router uses as middleware in between two and multiple networks, and your system secured to few extent.
Reduce Network Traffic: While using of internetwork communication, routers implement the dynamic routing methods. Dynamic routing allows to identify the optimal path presented for flowing the data over the internetwork, and it helps to generate the broadcast and collision domains. So, it can overall decrease the network traffic.
Packet Switching: A router is enabled with packet switching and packet filtering services. The router help to get filter the network with the using of filtering rules and guidelines. As per this rule the packets can allow or pass through.
Backup System: Due to any case if any external components of network get to halt, then the routers has option to use of other alternative parts for ignoring the issues in routing traffic. Mostly, large scale organizations use this backup system to control traffic efficiently.
NAT Implementation: A router contains the Network Address Translation (NAT), and with the help of NAT, router has a ability to share the connections along with single public IP address as well as can share UDP ports. Large organizations must use the NAT with internet connectivity.
Internal Integrations: A router has a option to get integration along with modems, and Wireless Access Points offer to make the small types of networks.
Disadvantages of Router
There are various challenges and limitations of router in the networking; below explain each one such as:
Low Speed: Router has less speed compare to repeaters and bridges, because it is not able to read 2 layer of information. Firstly, router is getting to determine the data from physical to network layer. So, all connections get become slowly. Due to use of multiple computer system as a share with the network then router can get to going undergoes situation that is known as Connection Wait.
More Expensive: Routers are higher expensive compare to other networking hardware devices like as hub, bridge, gateway, switch, etc.
Lack of Compatibility: Especially, router has a compatibility issues for 5GHz frequency. Your computer system and its other adapters are supportable with 5GHz frequency, but you are not eligible to get its features.
Worse Reliability: At every time, routers cannot consider as reliable. Few modem devices are getting to use 2.4GHz spectrum which frequently can get disconnect. Commonly, these types of problems occur by users in apartments and flats.
Complex initial Configuration: A router needs many initial configurations and NAT to get setup. If, you want to create a simple connection then there also must require the private IP address allotted. While enabling of more services, it must be needed more configurations.
Less Bandwidth: A router uses the dynamic routing method for making communication purpose, and due to this, it can get networking overheads. Huge amount of bandwidth can be consumed by overloaded networking as result more shortage of bandwidth. For keeping maintaining the records of routing table, frequently router updating over the network need the more bandwidth.
Routable Protocol: A router is able to perform all operations with using of routable protocol. It can offer unique IP addresses to other devices, and it cause can be determined entire network.
Applications of Router
- A router uses the high STM links for getting to connectivity, so it can use in both types of communications like as wired or wireless.
- Routers use by many internet service providers for moving data from source to targeted point in the format of picture, video, voice, text, web page, and it is capable to transfer all data over the network with using of IP address.
- Router provides the access restriction, because it can configure such manner that some users can access all data and permits to other users to access some data only that define for them.
- Software testers use the router for WAN communication. For example; the software manger located in Mumbai at the company office, and their other team members physically present other place such as Kolkata. Then with using of router, manager is capable to share his necessary tools and other useful application with linking their computer system to routing helping WAN architecture.
- In wireless networks, routers use the configured VPN, and as result it can use as client-server model. Then it allows to share internet, hardware resources, internet, video, audio, etc.
- It can use as modem, because router has inbuilt USB ports. It has sufficient internal storage memory, but router can use external storage devices for holding and sharing huge data.
- Routers act as set up operation and maintenance center of an company that can say the NOC center point.
- Routers help to make connectivity to hardware devices along with remote location network such as BSC, MGW, IN, SGSN, etc.
- Run a firewall
- It allows to link different types of devices with each other.
- To create LAN network
Summary Pros and Cons of Router
Pros of Router
- To decrease the number of broadcast domains
- It can also support to VLAN that helps to get in Logical segmentation of ports.
- It does not re-transmit network broadcast traffic.
- Router allows to split the enlarge networks into small inter networks.
- Routers allow stead and reliable connection in between the network hosts.
- Can use the CAM table for port to MAC mapping.
Cons of Router
- It has limited broadcasts.
- To decrease the number of broadcast domains
- Need bit configuration and proper designing for handling the multicast packets.
- Need inter VLAN routing for making communication in between the VLANs
- Enhance latency due to greater degree of packet filtering.