The most common use for the default gateway is to gain access to a webpage, where the request will be sent via the gateway before going on to the internet. Another key use is connecting devices on one subnet with devices on another, with the default gateway acting as an intermediary. Default gateways are essentially routing systems that ensure the request is sent to the right destination, even if the sender and receiver use different network protocols.
The device sending the request is the 'originating device', and as part of the process, the device will send out an access request using a routing table. This determines the most efficient route to send the request, and what the router should be.
The default gateway receives any request that doesn't have a specific router identified, ensuring data can still flow. When you have a small network, such as at home, the default gateway will generally be the main router. However, as networks increase in size, or in those cases where multiple networks may be operating concurrently, a system of subnets will be used alongside a specific default gateway.
Locating the default gateway's IP address is especially important, as it allows you to uncover any issues you might have with your network when troubleshooting or accessing your router's web-based management tool. Fortunately, the default gateway address is pretty easy to find. If your operating system of choice is Windows, simply head to the Control Panel and select the Network and Sharing Center.
Depending on the version, click the Change adapter options or Change adapter settings. What should my default gateway be? Issues related to configuring your network. Post by alexandervj » Fri Jan 24, pm I'm trying to setup an internal network with static IPs, changing the hosts config file. But I'm not sure what my default gateway should be.. The server's static IP I assigned as Let me know if I need to give you more info. Re: What should my default gateway be? Post by nigerag » Sat Jan 25, am If you do not need to access outside of your LAN, then it is safe to leave the default gateway blank.
Default gateway is used for routing computer requests outside of the LAN. Any request from workstations will be broadcasted within network. You don't even need WINS server, if you're editing your hosts files.
Post by intermediatelinux » Sat Jan 25, am alexandervj wrote: I'm trying to setup an internal network with static IPs, changing the hosts config file. Code: Select all hosts: dns files. Both roles are done by the same device in consumer-grade routers, and most commercial routers can do this as well, but they don't have to. Default gateway is simply whatever device is doing routing for the network you are on.
If you are using VLANs, you might have a layer-3 switch doing routing in which case that would be your default gateway. DHCP cannot do routing. To do routing you need a layer 3 device. DHCP is a protocol and it's at layer 2. It is the default gateway device that decides where to send the data.
This is an important point - with my setup, the firewall is where the default gateways live. Almost all the routing is done there.
In turn it has a default router which is the internet router. In this context L3 , a route is an IP address to which traffic is sent for a destination IP that is off the local L2 network. The route must point to an address that is on the same L2 network as the originating host. This is because the host communicates with a gateway at L2. You can create a route for any destination IP or IP range using as the target, the IP of a device capable of routing - i.
The term "gateway" is a synonym for "route of last resort. That's why you can't have two gateways defined on a single host. You can't have two final answers.
If you do configure it, things don't work right. For example, I have a router at I set that as my PC's gateway. But I have a second router on the network at If I wanted the host to make that decision, I would tell it. The "default gateway" is the "use this route gateway part unless I specifically say otherwise default part. A layer 3 firewall is a router. If you want to route your LAN traffic using your firewall as the gateway then that is ok but keep in mind that firewalls are limited in resources which are better used for filtering.
Robert gives a great explanation above. To be honest, various devices can be used as the gateway. The main objective is ensuring routing between those networks you wish to connect.
Best wishes. I just had the wrong terminology and wrong idea about what a "router" actually was. Thanks for all the replies. You can use a router or firewall as the default gateway. Get that out of your head. DHCP allows devices on your network to get configuration information from a service.
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