A SOHO router is a broadband router that is built and marketed for small offices and home offices. Since the workload for these businesses is primarily on the Internet, they require a local area network (LAN), meaning that their networking hardware is structured for that purpose.
How does a SOHO router work?
A SOHO network can be a mixed network of wired and wireless computers. Because these networks are intended for businesses, they can also include printers and sometimes voice over IP (VoIP) and fax over IP technology.
While home networks transitioned to predominantly Wi-Fi setups years ago, SOHO routers continue to feature wired Ethernet. Typical examples of Ethernet SOHO routers in common use include the Ubiquiti EdgeRouter, the Asus BRT-AC828 (8-port), and the Netgear Orbi Pro (4-port).
Modern SOHO routers require many of the same features as home broadband routers, and small businesses use the same models. Some vendors also sell routers with advanced security and management features, such as the ZyXEL P-661HNU-Fx Security Gateway, a DSL broadband router with SNMP support. Another example of a popular SOHO router is the Cisco SOHO 90 series, which is intended for up to 5 employees and includes firewall protection and VPN encryption.
