Firmware

Firmware is the term used to describe programs that are installed by manufacturers on the hardware they sell - in other words, operating software for the respective device. Firmware ensures that the network device is usable at all. It is installed on the flash memory of the hardware and cannot be changed by the end customer. Firmware only can be adjusted only with specific tools, but this will void the warranty, and, in the worst case, the network device will no longer be usable if it is incorrectly modified. Hardware manufacturers often update the firmware on their devices at regular intervals to make the hardware even more powerful, to apply security updates and to provide new functionalities.