Gateway

A gateway is a network component that connects two networks and translates between different protocols, address ranges or transmission methods. In its simplest form it is the default gateway through which end devices forward traffic to other subnets and to the internet, typically a router or firewall. More advanced forms operate at higher layers of the OSI model and convert protocols, for example VoIP gateways between SIP and ISDN, IoT gateways between radio standards and IP, or application layer gateways that adapt payload data. The gateway is configured on end devices either manually or automatically via DHCP. In corporate networks, availability, redundancy and protection of the gateway are decisive, as all external traffic passes through it.