Mount
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Desktop. Desktop routers include routers that do not use special rack mounts and are suitable for placement on any suitable surface — a table, shelf, etc. Although there are quite advanced models among desktop devices, however, most of them have relatively simple functionality and are designed for use in small networks where an abundance of equipment is not required.
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Rack mounted. Routers that are standard installed in a telecommunications rack are usually 19 "standard (although technically many of them can also be used as desktop ones, albeit with less convenience). Racks are used in extensive networks that require a large amount of equipment; accordingly, routers of this type in general, more powerful and advanced than the desktop, and are designed primarily for professional use.
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To the mast. Installation on a mast or other vertical structure — a tower, a pole, etc. Quite a rare form factor; It is mainly used in waterproof models designed for the possibility of working outdoors. Mobile network capable devices in this category may have a directional antenna to improve connectivity.
Gigabit Ethernet
The number of standard Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 network connectors provided in the device design.
As the name suggests, these connectors provide data transfer rates up to 1 Gbps. Initially, Gigabit Ethernet was considered a professional standard, and even now the real needs for such speeds arise mainly when performing special tasks. Nevertheless, even relatively inexpensive computers are now equipped with gigabit network adapters, not to mention more advanced technology.
As for the number of connectors, it corresponds to the number of network devices that can be connected to the "switch" directly, without the use of additional equipment. At the same time, it is worth noting that in some "switches" individual connectors of this type are combined with optical SFP or SFP +. Such connectors are marked "combo" and are taken into account both when counting RJ-45 and when counting SFP / SFP +.
2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
The number of standard network connectors RJ-45 format
2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, provided in the design of the device. These ports are backwards compatible with lower speeds. This type of ports can be used in conjunction with NAS servers or, for example, with routers that support Wi-Fi 6/6E, where this format has also become widespread.
SFP (optics)
The number of optical network ports of the SFP standard provided in the design of the device. We emphasize that we are talking about "ordinary" SFPs; SFP+ data is usually listed separately.
Specifically, in switches, the marking “SFP” usually means a connector for fiber with a connection speed of 1 Gbps. Technically, this is not much compared to RJ-45 speeds; however, this connection format has a number of advantages. One of the main ones is a greater effective range: the mentioned gigabit standard works with a cable length of up to 550 m, and by the standards of optical fiber, this is still very little. True, the cable itself is sensitive to kinks and requires quite delicate handling; on the other hand, it is completely immune to electromagnetic interference. On the other hand, in general, the SFP format is noticeably less popular in network equipment than RJ-45; therefore, there are few ports of this type even in advanced devices (
1 port or
2 ports, less often more). It is also worth considering that there may be so-called combo connectors that combine SFP and RJ-45; the presence of such ports is specified in the notes, they are taken into account both in the calculation of RJ-45 and in the calculation of SFP.
SFP+ (optics)
The number of SFP+ optical ports provided in the device design.
The general advantages of fiber optics over regular Ethernet cables are longer communication ranges and insensitivity to electromagnetic interference. Specifically, SFP+ is a development of the original SFP standard; Such connectors operate at a speed of 10 Gbit/s as standard. As for the number of such ports, despite all its advantages, optical fiber in network equipment is still used quite rarely and most often there is only
1 port(less often
2 ports or more). It is also worth considering that there may be so-called combo connectors that combine SFP+ and RJ-45; the presence of such ports is specified in the notes; they are taken into account both when calculating RJ-45 and when calculating SFP+.
Of which dedicated WANs
The number of ports
designated as WAN by the manufacturer. They are intended for wired connection of the device to the Internet or other external networks (to solve some specific problems).
Of which dedicated LAN
In this case, dedicated LANs mean directly marked network connectors designed for wired connection of LAN devices - PCs, servers, additional access points, etc. The number of ports corresponds to the number of devices that can be directly connected to the equipment by wire.
Of which dedicated WAN/LAN
The number
of WAN/LAN combo ports specified by the manufacturer in the device design that can be reassigned to work with both an external WAN and a local LAN. Such a solution allows to reduce the total number of connection ports and at the same time expand the functionality of the equipment for flexible adaptation to user needs.
USB ports
The number of
USB ports provided in the design of the router. USB is a universal interface used in computer technology to connect peripheral devices for various purposes. One of its uses is to connect a 3G modem (if provided, see “Data entry (WAN-port)”), but this is not limited to this: in fact, the options for using USB ports directly depend only on the capabilities specified in the router firmware. So, in some models, you can connect a flash drive or an external hard drive to this connector — to update the firmware or even organize an FTP server directly on the router. And for other peripherals — printers, cameras, etc. — USB connection can be used to work as network devices (however, such functions are rare in standard firmware).
