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A gateway is a networked device that acts as an entry point from one network to another. It is the link that connects two computers to the Internet. The Gateway acts as the portal between two programs and as a means of communication between the protocols, allowing them to share data on the same computer devices or among different computer systems. With the help of the Gateway, the users can communicate and send data back and forth. The Internet will not be of any use without gateways. A gate also refers to a node in a computer network. A node is a physical place where the data stops for transporting, reading, or using. Nodes can be:

• A computer that controls the traffic that the internet service provider, or ISP, receives.
• The stopping point node on the Internet can be a gateway or a host node.

If the entire family has internet access and a wireless network in the house, then the Gateway is the modem the ISP provides to connect to the network.

The function of the Gateway

The Gateway is created at the boundary of a network to manage all data communication routed internally or externally from the network. It also possesses information about the host network’s internal paths and the learned paths of different remote networks. Furthermore, it works as an access route to another network. A gateway is a compulsory feature of all routes, even though other devices can also work as a gateway or node.

Generally, a gateway acts as a safeguard for all local networks and connects them to public networks. It provides security, functioning similarly to a firewall, through NAT (Network Address Translation). The Gateway gets packets from the local network. It alternates its exterior IP address and a new port address into the resource fields of the IP (Internet Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) headers.

The following are the different functions of a gate:

• It is the best option to communicate multimedia between dissimilar networks because every network has different protocols and characteristics.
•  It performs as an interface between local and wide-area protocols, such as TCP/IP on the Internet.
• It is a key mechanism of any telephony communications offering a bridge between the telephone network and the Internet.

Types of Gateway

Gateways can take several forms and perform several tasks, such as the following:

• Cloud Storage Gateway

• Email Security Gateway

• Media Gate

• Web Application Firewall

• Amazon API Gateway

• API, SOA, or XML Gate

• IoT Gateway

• VoIP Trunk Gateway

Cloud Storage Gateway

This networking device, which can be software or hardware, provides connectivity and protocol translation services between a cloud storage service provider and a local customer application. This Gateway is also known as a cloud storage controller or appliance.

Email Security Gate

This Gateway helps secure and prevent the transmission of emails that will break company policy, send malware, or transfer data with malicious intent. It also prevents data loss, performs email encryption, and protects the device from known and unknown malware.

Media Gateway

This is a translational device used to convert different types of digital media protocols in order to have effective multimedia communication. Its main function is to convert several coding and transmission techniques that will enable communication between networks.

Web Application Firewall

This gate helps protect web applications by filtering and monitoring the HTTP traffic between them and the Internet. Typically, this protects web applications from different attacks. It filters and inspects incoming traffic that will be considered potential threats and contains malicious activities.

Amazon API Gateway

This form of gate publishes, creates, monitors, secures, and maintains the REST and WebSocket APIs at any scale. It also handles all the tasks that involve accepting and processing hundreds of thousands of concurrent API calls, traffic management, authorization, and access control.

API, SOA, or XML Gateway

This manages traffic flow into and out of a service, microservices-oriented architecture, or an XML-based web service.

IoT Gateway

IoT, also known as the Internet of Things, is a gateway that connects the cloud and controllers, sensors, and intelligent devices.

VoIP Trunk Gateway

This is an interface that facilitates the use of plain old telephone service. This gate connects subscribers to the VoIP network without the operators’ involvement or the incurring of telephone company toll charges.

 The History

In 1970, the researchers from the United States and France tried to explore the possibilities of interconnecting different types of packet networks.

The network designers wanted to create internetworking devices that could support multiple protocols, provide dynamic packet routing around changing line conditions, and ensure that the packets could be routed over links of limited speed. In 1987 and 1988, internetworking grew, and the names “Gateway” and “Router” became clearer. In addition, the industry observers brimmed with excitement about the fast pace of internetworking evolution and the promising markets for bridges, routers, and gateways.

Common Related Issues

A comparison between a router and a gateway will help clear a common misconception between the two terms. The Gateway and the router regulate the network traffic between two or more separate networks. However, gateways regulate traffic between two dissimilar networks, unlike routers, which regulate traffic between similar networks. Gateways can be used to reduce network traffic. It is also often used to make communication possible in dissimilar environments, while the routers can segment traffic on corporate networks.

Another common concern for users is when a default gateway is unavailable. To solve this concern, the user needs to follow the steps below:

1. Remove antivirus programs
2. Reinstall the network adapter driver
3. Change the network adapter driver
4. Update the network adapters driver

So, if none of these resolve the concern, it is recommended that you use a reimage repair tool that can scan the repositories to replace corrupt and missing files.