Mount
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Desktop. Desktop routers include routers that do not use special rack mounts and are suitable for placement on any suitable surface — a table, shelf, etc. Although there are quite advanced models among desktop devices, however, most of them have relatively simple functionality and are designed for use in small networks where an abundance of equipment is not required.
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Rack mounted. Routers that are standard installed in a telecommunications rack are usually 19 "standard (although technically many of them can also be used as desktop ones, albeit with less convenience). Racks are used in extensive networks that require a large amount of equipment; accordingly, routers of this type in general, more powerful and advanced than the desktop, and are designed primarily for professional use.
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To the mast. Installation on a mast or other vertical structure — a tower, a pole, etc. Quite a rare form factor; It is mainly used in waterproof models designed for the possibility of working outdoors. Mobile network capable devices in this category may have a directional antenna to improve connectivity.
USB ports
The number of
USB ports provided in the design of the router. USB is a universal interface used in computer technology to connect peripheral devices for various purposes. One of its uses is to connect a 3G modem (if provided, see “Data entry (WAN-port)”), but this is not limited to this: in fact, the options for using USB ports directly depend only on the capabilities specified in the router firmware. So, in some models, you can connect a flash drive or an external hard drive to this connector — to update the firmware or even organize an FTP server directly on the router. And for other peripherals — printers, cameras, etc. — USB connection can be used to work as network devices (however, such functions are rare in standard firmware).
CPU
The model of the processor installed in the device. The processor is responsible for processing network traffic and running software. Knowing its name, you can get more detailed data on the speed capabilities of the equipment and understand how much such a powerful or, on the contrary, mediocre element is needed on board. In new models of Wi-Fi equipment, coprocessors or so-called NPU modules are often installed, which relieve the load from the main processor.
CPU cores
The number of cores in the processor installed in the device. The core in this case refers to the part of the processor that executes one thread of instructions. Accordingly, the presence of multiple cores allows you to work with multiple threads simultaneously, which has a positive effect on performance.
CPU speed
The number of cycles per second that the processor produces in its normal operating mode. A clock is a single electrical impulse used to process data and synchronize the processor with the rest of the computer system. Different operations may require fractions of a clock or several clocks, but anyway, the clock frequency is one of the main parameters characterizing the performance and speed of the processor — all other things being equal, a processor with a higher clock frequency will work faster and better cope with significant loads.
RAM
The amount of random access memory (RAM) provided in the device. The amount of "RAM" is one of the indicators of the power of the device: the larger it is, the higher the speed and the better the device will cope with "heavy" tasks.
Flash memory
The amount of memory allocated for the operation of the operating system on board the device. It stores the OS and the control programme. Note that Flash memory is not available for use by the end user.
PoE outputs
The number of PoE-enabled outputs (see above) provided in the design of the router.
In theory, this number corresponds to the maximum number of network devices that can be powered via PoE. However, in practice, two more points should be taken into account. The first and foremost is the total power delivered by such ports; most often it is indicated in the item "Total PoE power", and for models with one output - in the item "Power per PoE output". In any case, if the power consumption of the connected equipment is higher than this value, at best, the power from the switch simply “does not start”, and at worst, overloads and equipment breakdowns are possible.
The second nuance concerns routers, which themselves can be powered using Power over Ethernet. Recall that the power of such a power supply is very limited, so when it is used, most of the power usually goes to the operation of the switch itself, and there is little (if any) left to supply the PoE outputs. So when a device is powered via PoE, its own PoE outputs, at best, greatly “sag” in terms of capabilities (maximum power decreases, the number of simultaneously powered devices decreases), and at worst, they completely turn into ordinary network ports, without additional power. So if you plan to fully use the PoE outputs, you should take care to connect the switch itself to the network; this is especially true for models where there is more than one such output.
Operating temperature
The range of ambient air temperatures at which the router is guaranteed to maintain normal operation.
All such equipment normally tolerates temperatures typical for residential or office premises. Therefore, it makes sense to pay attention to this indicator mainly in cases where the router is installed in unheated rooms or outside. The main value in this case is the lower limit of the range: not every device is able to normally tolerate temperatures below zero. On the other hand, most cold-resistant routers can withstand temperatures
down to -20 ° inclusive, and some models can be used
at -40 °C and even lower.
As for the upper limit, it is usually about +50 °C — even in hot countries it is extremely rare to find such an air temperature. At the same time, under the action of sunlight, the body of the device can heat up to higher temperatures, so you should avoid installing the equipment in direct sunlight.
