Role of Gateways in a Computer Network | STL | STL Blog

A
gateway is a computer on a network that provides the interface
between two applications or networks that use different protocols.
They are also used to provide a connection to the Internet. A gateway
in a network
converts information from one protocol to another and then transfers
it over the web. For example, if a computer on the Internet sends an
email to another, the gateway converts the message from one protocol
to another and sends it back.  

This
post will discuss gateways’ needs and functions in computer networks.

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How
Does a Gateway Work?

A
computer
gateway
is a server with software installed to connect networks and route
data. The gateway node can be linked to different routers or have a
router that connects it with other networks or the Internet. The
connection can be wired or wireless.

A
computer server may serve as a gateway node in any development team
of any commercial organization, and it may also act as a proxy server
or a firewall at times. A computer gateway
in a network
examines the data packet and then passes it to the other network. It
checks compatibility between the two networks and then converts the
data packet to ensure that it can be transmitted between them.

The
gateway node may also be linked to servers for specific purposes such
as email, web hosting, and database storage. It can also be part of a
more extensive network like the Internet. In this case, the gateway
node will have its IP address, thus making it possible to route
incoming traffic from different networks to its primary interface and
out onto the Internet. However, this is one of many possible
configurations for a gateway node; other configurations are also
possible. 

Functions
of Gateways 

The
gateway
in networking
is a device that connects the Internet to the LAN. It can even be
used as a bridge between two networks.

A
network
gateway
has two functions.

●
A
LAN-to-WAN function that connects the LAN to the Internet. 

●
A
WAN-to-LAN function connects the Internet to a remote LAN. 

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When
a data packet reaches a gateway, it verifies the header information
first. Once it validates the destination IP and checks for any data
packet errors, it converts the data packet’s data and protocol
according to the demands of the destination network. Finally, it
transmits the data packet to the target IP address by establishing a
dedicated transmission channel.

A
gateway
in networking
is also a part of any telephony system. It provides a bridge between
the phone network and the Internet. For example, let’s say you wanted
to set up a direct call for your customer. Your real-time
communication gateway will perform several tasks, automatically
detecting the customer’s current location and converting audio back
and forth between different technologies.

A
network
gateway
filters packets and separates a corporate network from the public
Internet. It is typically used to segregate networks, keeping local
and public networks safe. A gateway provides the same protection as a
firewall using a technique called NAT.

Types
of Gateways in Computer Networks

There
are two types of gateways in computer networks – bidirectional and
unidirectional. Let us look at a brief introduction of both types. 

• Unidirectional
  Gateways:
  They can only transmit data in one direction. You make changes in
  the source terminal, which are replicated to all the other
  destination nodes or applications without being changed themselves.
  These gateways serve as archiving tools. 

Unidirectional
gateways are made up of both hardware and software. The technology
allows data to flow from one source network to another but is
physically incapable of sending any data back into the source
network. Instead, the gateway software emulates protocol servers and
devices while replicating databases.

• Bidirectional
  Gateways:
  These gateways in networking enable the two-way flow of data. They
  can perform all tasks with synchronicity as they replicate changes
  made on the source node to the destination and vice-versa. In a
  nutshell, the bidirectional gateway serves as a synchronization
  programme or tool.

In
a bidirectional gateway setup, changes made to the content of a
source ObjectServer are transferred to a destination ObjectServer,
and the destination ObjectServer copies its alerts to the source
ObjectServer.

Examples
of Gateway in Networking

IoT Gateway is a central hub between IoT devices and cloud servers. They usually allow two-way data flow, with the incoming data stream processed by the ‘cloud’. An IoT gateway is also known as a control tier or an intelligent gateway. 

Network
Gateway:
Network gateways are intended to transform traffic across protocols.
These translations make it possible to connect networks that use
various protocols or data formats, with the network
gateway
doing an in-line translation.

Network gateways are critical for linking business LANs to the public Internet. Many companies use protocols that differ from those used on the public Internet, yet some of this communication may be headed for the Internet. 

Payment
Gateway:
The system that gathers and sends payment data from the client to the
acquirer is known as a payment gateway.

Media
Gateway:
It’s a device used in a telecom operator’s main network to transform
and interconnect media streams that use various wireless standards,
codecs, communication protocols, and physical connections, allowing
phone calls to work correctly between networks that use different
systems.

Default
Gateway:
It’s a node that establishes a link across networks for computers on
different networks to communicate with one another. The ‘default’
element of the phrase refers to the fact that it is often the first
and default route used.

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Email
Security Gateway serves
as an email security solution between the public Internet and the
business email server. This location enables it to scan emails for
malicious content before they reach corporate networks. However, this
gateway’s architecture renders it unsuitable for securing newer
cloud-based email platforms.

VoIP
Trunk Gateway:
A VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) trunk gateway is a device that
connects PSTN equipment to a VoIP network. It does that without the
need for an operator. These gateways provide a wide range of
services, the most common of which is a low-cost telephone.

Web
Application Firewalls:
These provide safe network system connectivity at a high level. When
a client seeks access to server resources like web pages, files, and
databases, initially, the client establishes a connection with the
proxy server, which then connects to the primary server.

Conclusion

A
gateway
in a network
is frequently used in tandem with a router. A router is a tiny piece
of computer/network gear that links you to the Internet. The router
comes with specific software that you install for in-home networks. 

Routers
can act as gateways in networking because they can regulate the path
by which data is transmitted in and out. It accomplishes this by
determining where data packets should be routed using built-in
headers and forwarding tables. These data packets contain your
emails, transactions, internet activities, etc.

A
gateway is one of the various methods through which our data is
transferred over the Internet for us. The gateway allows us to
connect to many networks, send an email, browse websites, and make
purchases online, among other things. Gateways effortlessly give us
the freedom, knowledge, and convenience we enjoy online.

Installing
fixed routers inside a home to regulate traffic will no longer make
sense when individuals possess hundreds of wearable and mobile
gadgets that need to interact inside and outside the home: devices
will all talk with each other and the Internet directly.

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FAQs 

1.
What is the difference between a gateway and a router? 

A
router is a device or piece of hardware in charge of receiving,
processing, and routing data packets to other networks. A router
detects the packet’s destination IP address, and therefore the
optimal path to send the packet is identified with the assistance of
headers and forwarding tables.

A
gateway
in networking
is a device or piece of hardware that operates as a “gate”
between networks. As a result, it might also be characterized as a
node serving as an entry point for the other nodes in the network. It
is also in charge of allowing traffic to flow across the web. Because
a gateway communicates via many protocols, its operations are far
more complicated than those of a switch or router.

2.
Is a gateway the same as a firewall?

A
gateway is essentially a hardware or software interface that enables
two networks to connect. It effectively connects two different
networks, allowing users to interact across many networks. A firewall
is a security tool that tracks and regulates network traffic. It is
the core of an organization’s security architecture. Firewalls keep
unauthorized users out of private networks linked to the Internet,
notably intranets. They also prevent suspicious traffic, such as
viruses and hackers, by monitoring incoming and outgoing traffic
based on pre-defined criteria.

3.
What layer device is a gateway?

A
gateway is commonly implemented on the Open Systems Interconnection
(OSI) architecture’s network layer, but it may be put on any OSI
layer. Virtual or standalone gateways can be placed anywhere in a
network that requires translation. They can be unidirectional
(enabling data to travel in only one direction) or bidirectional
(providing data to flow in both directions).

4.
Does a gateway have an IP address?

The
default
gateway
IP address is the router’s private IP address. The router uses this
address to interact with a local home network. In addition, the
gateway is assigned two IP addresses. The first is an external IP
address issued by your ISP (internet service provider), while the
second is an internal IP address accessible exclusively within your
network.