A router module—not to be confused with a traditional Internet router, though its purpose is similar—is used to organize and direct traffic throughout a network. These are necessary parts of any network infrastructure that has multiple control hubs or internal networks with a large amount of traffic running through them. Without a router module, a network can experience severe traffic congestion with many large data transfers attempting to go through the network at one time. This will ultimately cause the network to become unusable, and eventually, it will shut down entirely.
A good analogy to the task a router module performs is to think of what a Quality of Service (QoS) platform does in a traditional Internet router. Without QoS capabilities, a router directs traffic on a first-come, first-served basis—whatever transfers started first get priority... .
This means that if a router is overwhelmed with too many requests, the first requests will have to complete before the congestion is cleared up. Internet data speeds determine how much congestion the router can handle: If there are too many large-scale requests at once, network traffic will become bogged down. In other words, if you have a 300 Mbps connection and the entire network is using 300 Mbps at one time, then any subsequent requests simply won’t have any bandwidth left, halting the process until traffic frees up.
A QoS system is how you prioritize traffic within a network. This way, it’s not just on a first-come, first-served basis; instead, traffic is routed based on its application. For example, video calls may be prioritized to avoid laggy business meetings or calls with clients. Even if network speeds are capped at a certain data transfer rate, video calls will always be first in line within it. Router modules are similar, routing traffic as efficiently as possible to avoid network lag or downtime.
Router modules are especially useful for networks that are heterogeneous and do not have a common hub. It doesn’t take much training to use a router module. With simplified voice and video interfaces, router modules are ideal for first-time webmasters.
Here at Connection, we carry router modules for any size business. We make it as easy as possible to find exactly what you’re looking for with our advanced search filters. From remote management protocol to installed RAM to data transfer rates, you can sort by practically any feature. Looking for a router module that matches your aesthetics? We even let you sort by color. Most router modules are wired for maximum speed and efficiency, but we also carry units that utilize wireless and fiber optic connectivity technologies.
Still not sure which product is right for you? Feel free to contact our expert customer service representatives who will be happy to help you both pre- and post-sale. We’ll work with you to determine what fits best and then stay with you throughout the setup process and beyond.