Network Management Components

Large networks are made by combining several individual network segments together, using appropriate devices like routers and/or bridges. When network segments are combined into a single large network, paths exist between the individual network segments. These paths are called routes and devices keep tables which define how to get to a particular path. When a packet arrives, the router/bridge will look at the destination address of the packet and determine which network segment the packet is to be transmitted on in order to get to its destination.