Soft route or hard route is a good route

Routers for enterprises or Internet cafes generally have two solutions: Soft routing and hard routing. Soft routing refers to the use of desktops or servers in combination with software to form a routing solution, mainly relying on software settings to achieve the functions of the router; while hard routing is a dedicated hardware device, includes processor, power supply, and embedded software, and provides the set router function.
Traditional concepts
In our traditional understanding, there are many different interpretations of hardware and software routing. However, communication is benign and interactive, and there have not been too many false guidance during Industry discussions. The ultimate goal is to find the best cost-effective products suitable for their network work environments. Next, let's take a look at some traditional understandings.
Generally, soft routes are computers. Hardware routes can be classified according to different standards. For example, they can be divided into high, medium, and low-end performance routes, the structure is divided into fixed configuration and modularization.
There are many advantages of soft routing, such as using cheap desktops and free Linux software, but the software in the router is deeply embedded into the hardware, including the optimization of various device drivers, different system cpu optimization strategies, etc. This software is not an application software, but a system software, and cannot be separated from the hardware. Flexible routing is elastic, and the desktop processor has powerful performance, so the processing efficiency is good and easy to expand.
However, technical personnel are also required to have more professional knowledge, such as setting methods and parameter design, and the setting is also complicated, and technical personnel must be able to adapt to specific technical capabilities. At the same time, if the hardware configuration of the desktop is poor or unreasonable, and the function of the router works for a long time, the chance of failure will be very high. The cost of building a desktop is not low, but if you want to use a server, the cost is higher, and the learning process of technicians is also cumbersome.
The practice of hard routing is to configure a dedicated machine. Like a PC, Hard Routers include power supplies, internal BUS, primary storage, flash memory, processors, and operating systems. They are designed for routing functions with low costs. Because the architecture design takes into account the long-term operation, the stability is ensured. In addition, most of the important functions have been completed in the built-in system design, so there is little effort to set manual management, it can save time for technical or network administrators. However, if a certain hardware specification is not powerful and the scalability is not wide, it may fail to meet the requirements. In particular, if the vendor does not provide the feature, therefore, technical or network administrators cannot solve the problem.
Taking Qno's products as an example, the software functions used have been tested by a professional SmartBit network tester for a long time, and have passed field testing and interoperability in different countries, so that they can operate in harsh environments for a long time. The Intel IXP 425 series routing network processor used in Qno's products is suitable for IP packet inspection and VPN encryption and decryption. The memory is used internally and there is no hard disk to be moved, making it difficult to fail. In addition, high-quality products are used for ventilation, heat dissipation, and power supply to ensure long-term operation reliability. Qno's products only need to connect the network. There is no compatibility problem. It is very small and can be placed on the desktop, mounted on the wall, or at the bottom of the table, which is very convenient. Qno has a Web interface that allows you to set up images in Chinese and operate on any computer.
Precise system comparison
The above analysis is subjective, but it also summarizes the overall characteristics reasonably. Next we will analyze the comparison of hardware and software routes in a more comprehensive and accurate manner, for your reference.
1. concepts. Soft routing usually uses a common operating system, such as linux or windows. Therefore, the routing settings are actually windows or linux settings or computer configurations. The PC can be an old 486 or advanced PC/server. The software and hardware are separated independently. The hardware routers are mostly based on the embedded system architecture. They use self-developed or existing embedded operating systems such as Vxworks, Montavista, and uClinux as operating systems, the software and hardware work together with the routing software developed by the system manufacturer. The hardware router uses a dedicated operating system, so the Super Terminal (Computer) is used to manage the router through the console. The management of hardware routers is usually implemented using dedicated command lines, graphical interfaces, or network management software.
2. Specific hardware architecture. The hardware architecture of the software router is universal and applicable to various application software installation and use, not just for the vro. The hardware architecture of the hardware router is designed for the vro, some CPUs are developed for network applications.
3. Hardware assembly. Software router users may have to assemble their own hardware. Generally, a PC may not have a network card (for example, an old 486) or only one network card. Users must install an additional network card on their own, to meet the routing function. The hardware may have compatibility issues, which must be solved by the user. The hardware router user does not need to assemble the hardware by himself. The hardware collocation design has been completed by the system manufacturer and has undergone rigorous tests, there will be no incompatibility.
4. software installation. Software vro users must install software on their own. Some software is free of charge, and some are premium. Hardware vro users do not need to install software on their own. The software is embedded in the flash memory of the product.
5. Software maintenance. Software routers provide free software, which is usually non-commercial open program code. Generally, some experts from different regions participate in the development and modification due to their interest. The functional integrity and debugging cannot be guaranteed; the software functions of the hardware router are developed by the system vendor of the launched product, with high consistency. The addition of functions and debugging come from the maintenance of the system manufacturer. Users only need to upgrade the software, and there is a real pipeline to upgrade the software. After-sales service is guaranteed.
6. Integration of software, hardware, and operating systems. Software router software must accommodate existing hardware (such as PCs) and existing operating systems (such as Windows and Linux). Both hardware and operating systems are not designed for Network/routing functions. Stability cannot be generalized. Users must pay relative costs, time, energy, and money. However, the software and hardware of hardware routers use embedded operating systems and work with each other, therefore, the overall design is simplified, efficient, stable, and easy to set up. The product cost and the cost paid by users are also relatively low.
7. Use interfaces. In a software router, different software has different methods, some of which are window images and some are command line commands. Not necessarily easy to understand. Some require professional knowledge, while hardware routers use Web GUI to set up, emphasizing user friendly and making simple and easy-to-understand setting methods based on specific functions.
8. level differences. There is no difference between software routers. The performance depends on the PC and software selected by the publisher. Therefore, different network/route applications may not be applicable. The more advanced the application environment, the more professional the knowledge is required to be able to cope with the situation. The hardware router will develop vrouters of different levels for different levels of Network/route applications to achieve better cost effectiveness.
9. work environment. Software routers can only work on Ethernet networks to achieve interconnection between local networks. Hardware routers have a wide range of interface types, so they are suitable for various types of networks. They can be used for LAN interconnection or WAN and Internet interconnection. In addition, the efficiency of the two is also different. Soft routes can be applied to small-and medium-sized networks with low communication efficiency, and hardware routes can be applied to large-and small-and medium-sized networks with high communication efficiency.
Buy the most appropriate product
In general, different products are suitable for different customer groups. From the perspective of the development of many products, the software method is suitable for network management with more technical capabilities. However, the general network management system wants to focus on other more valuable places, and uses hard routing. Due to computer restrictions, the soft route can only use the ethernet card. Therefore, it is basically limited to the connections between Ethernet networks. The soft route connection is used only when multiple network segments are divided between Ethernet networks. If the network is large enough to be divided into subnets, the efficiency of the soft route is obviously unable to meet the high-speed communication between networks. In terms of price, soft routing is the price of a computer, while the price of hardware routing varies greatly depending on the performance. To be honest, if you only implement NAT translation, the computer efficiency will be higher than that of the hardware router.
Combined with various considerations, buyers must fully understand their network environment and investment plans to consider how to select a router. I will give an example to analyze the work environment requirements of Internet cafes. Internet cafes have the following requirements for Routers: strong data processing capabilities, fast and smooth Internet access, no disconnection or pause under big data traffic; high stability and reliability, it can work continuously and stably for a long time. It must have strong compatibility and be able to adapt to different access services of different carriers. It is easy to install, configure, manage, and use, and the user interface is user-friendly and easy to understand; to ensure the performance, you must have a reasonable price with excellent performance and price ratio. Therefore, for an internet cafe of a certain scale, they prefer to use hard routes. Using a hardware router brings more advantages, such as forming equipment, which requires no maintenance during one debugging, no trouble for component maintenance; technical support from professional manufacturers, Free Upgrade of professional software; Support for line backup, load balancing, Policy Routing, and many other Internet cafe-compliant applications; most products use dedicated network CPUs to solve the complex problem of network routing. Professional Technical Tracking can solve new problems that occur in the emerging network applications, all of which are free of charge.
We recommend that you use a brand manufacturer with a deep foundation.
There are many hardware routing manufacturers in the industry, and there are many brand models on the market. For vrouters of the same model, the prices of products of different manufacturers may vary greatly. If the purchaser has the conditions, I suggest you select multiple brands, because brand manufacturers have the ability to conduct research on system solutions and do not disconnect new products to meet the needs of different network environments, it also brings greater support to network managers, saving investors from excessive investment. The author recommends QVM and FVR series multi-WAN routers launched by xiaonuo technology. It is a cost-effective router independently developed by Intel IXP Xcale CPU for network applications based on high performance. With years of R & D experience, R & D personnel of xiaonuo technology can effectively integrate soft, hard, and tough interfaces to maximize the CPU performance and provide multi-WAN network environments, many easy and practical functions are designed. Not only is the product stable, functional, and easy to install and use, it is a model of similar products.

	Software Router	Hardware Router
General Definition	Based onPCHardware architectureWindowsOrLinuxFor the operating system, and then install the routing software. The software and hardware are independent.	Based on the embedded system architecture, suchVxworks, Montavista, uClinuxAnd then work with the routing software developed by the system vendor.
Hardware architecture	The hardware architecture is universal and applicable to various application software installation and use.	The hardware architecture is designed for routers. SomeCPUIt is also developed for network applications, suchIXP Xcale.
Hardware assembly	Users may have to assemble their own hardware. Users generally need to install additional network cards on their own. The hardware may have compatibility issues.	You do not need to assemble the hardware by yourself.
Software Installation	You must install the software on your own. Some software is free, while others are paid.	You do not need to install the software on your own. The software is included in the product flash memory.
Software maintenance	Free Software is usually non-commercial open program code. It is generally developed and modified by experts from various places who are interested in it. Functional integrity and debugging cannot be guaranteed.	The software function is developed by the system manufacturer of the launched product. It is maintained by the system manufacturer. The acquisition of the upgraded software has a real pipeline, and the after-sales service is guaranteed.
Integration of software, hardware, and operating systems	The software must accommodate existing hardware and operating systems. Neither the hardware nor the operating system is designed for the network routing function. Users must pay relative costs-Time, energy, and money	Software, hardware, and embedded operating systems work together. The overall design is relatively simplified and easy to set up. The cost of products and the cost paid by users are also relatively low.
Interface	Different software has different methods, some of which are window images and some are command line images.(Command line)Most of the commands require strong professional knowledge.	MostlyWeb GUITo set, emphasizeUser friendlyThe setting method is simple and easy to understand.
Level Difference	No difference. The performance is based on the performance selected by the publisher.PCAnd software. Different application environments require different professional knowledge.	Networks of different levels/The router application has different levels of routers.
Work Environment	Software routers can only work on Ethernet networks,Implement interconnection between local networks.	Hardware routers have a wide range of interface types, so they are suitable for various types of networks.,It can be applied to lan interconnection, Wan andInternetInterconnection.
Work Efficiency	Soft routing can be applied to small\Networks with low communication efficiency	Hardware routing can be applied to large, medium, and small networks with high communication efficiency.
Stability	It is determined by the overall hardware stability. If a single part is unstable, the stability is easily affected.	Designed for long-term operation, the system is well-matched. If the product design is appropriate, the stability is excellent.