Title: Gateways
Course: 2016FA-MCO-110-401 > Section: Module 8: IT Infrastructure

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A Gateway is a device utilized for connecting two or more networks utilizing different communication protocols. Not to be confused with a Router, which performs communications between networks utilizing similar protocols, a gateway is tasked with performing data transfer in a much more complex environment. An example of a gateway are the nodes (devices) utilized by ISPs to grant access to the Internet. Gateways are also tasked with performing Network Address Translation, which is the directing of data traffic based on the IP address information attached to data packet. NAT is the mechanism by which a request initiated within a private network is routed to an external network, answered, and routed back to the initiating device. An example would be making a refresh request on a social media application. The refresh request is processed almost instantaneously through the work of many gateways and delivered back to the requesting device as an updated view.

Objectives met:
- C8
- 8.9