gateway: A computer (or device) in a network that serves as an interface between one or more computers on, for example, a LAN, and some other computer resource, like the Internet.

See "proxy server" as it has some similarities in some applications.

The gateways I use typically use NAT (Network Address Translation) to change the address on outgoing and incoming packets so that data is exchanged with the proper computer on the LAN.

It is a way of letting a group of computers share a single connection to a resource like the Internet.

A gateway may or may not incorporate a firewall (or rules like those of a firewall).

See also:

• Iproute
• NetworkNat

See:

• AboutThesePages

Contributors

• RandyKramer - 14 Jan 2002
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