An edge router plays a critical role in modern networks by acting as the gateway between an internal network and external networks, such as the internet or a service provider’s core network. It manages traffic entering and leaving a network and ensures data flows efficiently, securely, and reliably.
What Is an Edge Router?
Difference between an Edge Router and a Normal Router?
An edge router differs from a normal router in these aspects:
- Location: An edge router lies at the edge of a network, connecting an internal network to external networks like the Internet or other WANs. In contrast, a normal router is typically used within an internal network to connect various devices within it.
- Connectivity: Edge routers handle connections to external networks, often with higher bandwidth and scalability requirements. They have multiple high-speed interfaces to connect to different network providers or external networks. Normal routers, on the other hand, usually come with a smaller number of interfaces for connecting devices within a network.
- Security and services: Edge routers often have advanced security features because they are responsible for enforcing security policies and protecting a network from external threats. Normal routers, meanwhile, usually have more basic security features focusing on local network protection rather than external connectivity.
- Routing capacity: Edge routers handle large volumes of network traffic efficiently. They route data between networks with speed and accuracy. Powerful processors drive their performance. Large memory capacity supports fast data handling. Extensive routing tables manage complex routing protocols. These features help edge routers make optimal routing decisions. Normal routers typically have lower routing capacities since they deal with smaller-scale network traffic within a single network.
- Administration and management: Edge routers are typically managed by network administrators or IT professionals who are experts in handling complex network configurations and external connectivity. They require more advanced configuration and monitoring due to their critical role in connecting a network to the outside world. On the other hand, normal routers are generally easier to configure and manage since they handle simpler network setups within a controlled environment.
Edge router features
Edge routers come with a number of features that can help improve any IoT network.
Security
Edge platforms contain robust security controls, such as traffic decryption and packet inspection; application identification and access control; malware and malicious-URL filtration; and intrusion detection and prevention. They also enhance cloud security deployments with robust tunneling capabilities. Edge platforms contain hardware-anchored security capabilities for encryption-key storage and device-authenticity checks.
Advanced network intelligence
Edge routers are built to deal with whatever the internet can throw at them. They interface with many devices, networks, and systems. They support multiple interconnection protocols. These include IPv4, IPv6, and MPLS. They also support IP routing protocols such as IS-IS, OSPF, and BGP.
Dynamic connectivity
Edge routers are also able to adapt to multiple hardware needs. They are equipped with standard ethernet ports, but can also connect through 5G, Bluetooth, and other wireless protocols.
Data and telemetry collection
Edge routers can support network data and telemetry management with collection of data on bytes received or transmitted, based on parameters such as file type, user, LAN, or application.
Trustworthiness
Edge routers let you manage your own security rather than outsourcing it. You are the one in control of what gets into your network because you are the one controlling the hardware. While the main function of an edge router is to route data, given the customization options, they also serve as a bulwark against network intrusion.
Benefits of edge routers
The main benefits of edge routers are:
- Improve quality of service (QoS): Edge routers play an essential role in mitigating the bottlenecks and traffic slowdowns that differing bandwidth levels between networks cause. They manage data flow by queuing it.
- Security: Because of their role as edge devices processing traffic to and from external networks, edge platforms should contain multilayered security functions that can either run on the device or optimize traffic for cloud-delivered security in SASE architectures.
- Remote access: Edge platforms can prioritize LAN services and support thousands of VPN tunnels to provide fast, secure remote access for distributed workers.
- Service flexibility: Edge platforms are able to run and service-chain a portfolio of virtual services: routing, switching, compute, optimization, firewall, and more.
Popular edge router vendors and products
Some popular router vendors and their respective products include the following:
- Cisco: One of the most respected networking companies, Cisco has a variety of router offerings, including its ISR series, marketed as branch routers, and its ASR series, marketed as edge routers.
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE): For those seeking cost-effective yet robust solutions, HPE’s MSR and VSR series provide versatile connectivity options suitable for growing IoT networks.
- Ubiquiti: Ubiquiti offers its EdgeRouter X, which is supported by its EdgeOS. Its intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) makes it easy for users to configure their devices’ web interface settings.
- Dell: Dell’s N series routers are recognized for their energy efficiency and budget-friendly pricing, making them a smart pick for organizations mindful of both power consumption and ROI.
Conclusion
An edge router is a vital component of any network that connects to external systems. It combines routing intelligence, security features, and traffic management. This combination ensures reliable and secure communication between internal networks and the outside world. As networks expand, they rely more on cloud and internet-based services. Because of this growth, the edge router plays an even more important role.
