Designated Router

What Does Designated Router Mean?

A designated router is a hardware piece playing a particular role in wireless networking. It is most frequently used as part of an Open Shortest Path First or OSPF link-state routing protocol for IP networks.

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Techopedia Explains Designated Router

Systems like OSPF involve a designated router or DR and designated backup router or BDR. Experts describe the designated router as the chosen path for multiple routers on a multi-access network segment. Using testing processes like a neighbor discovery process and various types of IP messaging, a designated router can be chosen.

Elaborate systems for link-state routing will help to identify which types of routers can be designated or backup-designated, and which routers may not receive a designation. OSPF is a very common type of implementation for quick network convergence. It competes with other models such as IS-IS, or Intermediate System to Intermediate System, a routing protocol for a set of physically connected hardware.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…