Can anybody explain what is the difference between a ROUTER and FIREWALL?its a question asked in F2F interview?

[vasanth77]

hi,

i went for an Interview,they asked this question,

what is the difference between a firewall and router?

I answered,Firewall is a security device and router is used for routing packets faster than firewall,

they replied,even a firewall can do routing then ,also a router can do security by using ACL in port level,so why don't we use any one of device?tell the exact difference again?

can any body tell the right answer for this?or exact reason?

[Leo Laohoo]

Go HERE.

[pravin03.singh]

Firewall works as L2 and L3 both, but router only on L3.

 Firewall inspects packets on L3 to L7 but router works on L3.

 Firewall have Failover,router can't

Main difference is :-

Whenever we take trace,then firewall cannot comes on picture,but router always shows as a Hop Count.

[Joseph W. Doherty]

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The difference is revealed by the devices names.  Routers are focused on routing, firewalls are focused on security.  Features often overlap, but routers tend to be more routing feature rich than firewalls, and firewalls tend to be more security feature rich than routers.

For example, a router may support routing protocols a firewall doesn't, and a firewall may support deep packet inspection that a router doesn't.

BTW, some large firewalls have more routing capacity than small routers, so again, it's for of a feature focus.

[Ganesh Hariharan]

Hello Vasanth,

Router is pure Layer 3 device which do route lookup and send to respective gateway where as firewall are L4 devices which do route lookup and the policy check to permit or deny the traffic based on rule applied.

Hope it helps..

-GI

Rate if it Helps.

[InayathUlla Sharieff]

Basic:-Router: Layer 3 device which you can use for Routing purpose.

Firewall:- To protect your network from all kinds of attack.( From external users to internal users.External users to prevent coming in and internal means to prevent them in what so ever access/information which you want them to browse through).

Some info on web:

A router is a device in a computer that moves data back and forth between networks. In essence, whenever information is sent along, and between networks, or between locations on one network, a router does the work of directing this data to its rightful location. This task is achieved via headers – a bit of information that is part of a data packet, that contains transparent information about that particular file, or that file’s transmission. Forwarding tables also play a key role in the way a router functions. They determine which path is best for the data packets.

A firewall is basically part of a computer system that protects it from unwanted and harmful materials gaining access to the system. It is built in much the same way as most walls – with layers of related bricks to maximise its strength, and to keep out unwanted intruders. Likewise, a firewall is composed of a set of related programs, set up at the network gateway server, to protect a private network’s resources from other users on the same network, or on other networks. A firewall works in conjunction with a router, in order to inspect each network packet before it is forwarded along, and/or to another network.

HTH