What is the internetwork?

The term "internetwork" refers to a collection of networks that communicate with each other through devices known as routers. This definition emphasizes the function of routers, which are crucial for directing traffic between different networks and ensuring that data can be transmitted seamlessly across diverse network architectures.

In an internetwork, various networks—each possibly utilizing different protocols and technologies—can interconnect and function as a unified system. This interconnection allows for the sharing of resources and information across multiple networks, ranging from local area networks (LANs) to wide area networks (WANs).

The nature of the internetwork enables the global connectivity we experience with the internet, where countless separate networks operate in conjunction with one another, facilitated by routers that handle the complexities of routing data packets to their appropriate destinations.

This understanding of an internetwork as a network of networks highlights the importance of interoperability and communication protocols in modern networking architecture.