What is a default gateway? Is it a router or server ?

Question

I am trying to create a very secure network, Which one is best as a default gateway? a router or a Server?

FYI.. I am windows user

Answer 1

a default gateway is usually an I.P. address that can be accessed within the modem or a router it is a sort of a verifier if the modem/router and the pc are communicating. If you do an ipconfig and no default gateway shows it means that the pc and modem are not connected. Default gateways are obtained from the modem/ router

Answer 2

Default gateway definition? All the other devices in your network talk through this gateway. normally this is a router. A server can do the same functinality if you have internet sharing enabled on your (windows) computer if it has two ethernet cards and one card is directly connected to the internet and the other to the rest of the network.

There are routers in the market now available with Firewall. For a highly secured network you should be using devices like PIX or ASA or similar products of Cisco. But that is for high security business networks.

For home and home offices, a small wireless / wired router such as linksys / netgear / D-Link etc would do. Do you have a laptop with wireless card, go for a wireless router. Then use WPA encription on the wireless.

Since you are a windows user, i would recomend using a router - linux OS has built in security which is not easy to break as that on windows.  

Answer 3

The best gateway device would be a firewall. Because of the options to block unused ports and the wan traffic management features, it is the only choice of security minded users. I use Sonicwall TZ series firewall at home. If you're considering making your server your gateway for users on the LAN to  have internet access that isn't  protecting you from the WAN side.  Depending on the router that you have it may have some basic or advanced firewall features. So between the two choices I'd go for the router however reluctantly.

There are some Firewall  Virtual appliances that run on VMWARE server that you can download . I've used a few. They are adequate. If you need more info, ,hit me up

Answer 4

If you want real security, have a dedicated firewall as your gateway. This can either be a hardware appliance or a software solution running on a dedicated machine. Either way that should be your gateway.

Then as we go down through the levels of security, we have routers as gateways (medium security) and servers as gateways (no security).