How to Operate a Cisco Router - Computers - Hardware

If you're looking for a router for any reason, then many would tell you to look no further than Cisco, and with good reason. Cisco has been a leader in the industry for many years now, and their recent acquisition of Linksys only serves to solidify their current position. There are many ways in which one might operate a Cisco router aside from the obvious, so let's take a look at a few of the options.

First of all, you can operate a Cisco router in the same way that you would operate any other router. This would mean managing the ports yourself and ensuring there are no problems with the network. As with any other router you can connect it to a hub and direct the signal anywhere in an office building. A Cisco router is much more capable than a standard router which means you will need to ensure you have some knowledge of the firmware before you get started.

Many people tend to believe that the difference between a large scale Cisco router and a standard Cisco router is the firmware, and to an extent they would be right. One great example of this of course is the fact that the firmware in an industrial router allows for far more functionality. A residential router generally does not include the ability to control the broadcast strength or range of the antennas but you can be rest assured that this ability comes standard with the industrial models.

In addition to that, the port forwarding options are bit more robust and unlike in many residential routers, you can save your settings. In other words the settings will remain even if you unplug the router, which should be a given, but it isn't. There are plenty of other features that you will find in these routers and with each new firmware update comes a new feature.

The proper procedure for utilising a Cisco router would be to first set it up without connecting it to the network. Check to see if you can copy your settings, or if you need to enter them manually once again. Having completely configured the router, you can proceed to connect it to the network noting that you will need to ensure your security settings are up to par.

Setting up and using your Cisco router shouldn't be incredibly difficult, and with that being said, now would be a great time for you to look into the different models and get prepared whether you are replacing your existing router or preparing an entirely new network. It's all up to you, and while Cisco routers can be very expensive, they are well worth it.

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