blog posts

What is the Default Gateway?

In simple words, a Gateway is a Node that allows communication between several networks, allowing a computer in one network to talk to another computer in another network. It is called Default because it is the first path that is chosen to connect to another network unless there are other options.  Let’s look at one of the most important network elements that have a fundamental and vital function.

The most and most common use of Gateway is to communicate and connect to the Internet, where our request is sent to the Default Gateway and from there it is transferred to the Internet. Also, Default Gateway is sometimes used to communicate between several subnets in a LAN network.

Training set for setting up a functional network.

Let’s get to know the Gateway better with a simple example, for example, in a home network and a small network, usually, your Gateway is your main router (ADSL modem). Because you are transferred to another network through that device. When the size of the network increases and we have several networks and subnets in one network, the Default Gateway may be a specific device or operating system.

Apart from the fact that the Default Gateway can be a device or operating system in the network, the IP address of that device or operating system is placed as the Gateway address on the target systems. Look at the figure below, in this figure the ISP Router of the desired device is considered as the Default Gateway, and the IP address that is set on its interface is considered as the IP address for the Default Gateway of network computers.

Default gateway

You can easily get the Gateway address by entering your computer’s IP address settings section. This is the same for all operating systems, and only the way to enter the network card settings is different