Default gateway

From TSG Library of Knowledge

A default gateway is a device that allows one network to connect to other networks, including the Internet. The most common device used for a default gateway is a router.

Without a default gateway, you are confined to your own network. You would not be able to even surf the internet!

A common analogy would be to picture a building and each floor representing a network (1st floor = 192.168.1.0 network, 2nd floor = 192.168.2.0 network and so on). In order to get to another floor, you will need use an elevator, or a staircase (your 'default gateway') and go to your floor, then room (device) that you need.

Now say for example would want to go 192.168.3.0 network (3rd floor) but when you get into the elevator there is no 3rd floor button. This means that your 'gateway' does not know how to get to that network. By then you would get an Unreachable Host message if you were trying to ping a device on the 192.168.3.0 network.

Unless you are planning a secure Local Area Network, you will need a default gateway



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