The default gateway address in the IP configuration of PC1 is the IP address of the first Layer 3 device (typically a router interface) that connects the PC1's local network to other networks. This gateway serves as the forwarding point for packets destined for remote networks outside the local subnet. Essentially, it is the router interface on the same local network as PC1, responsible for routing traffic from PC1 to external networks, including the Internet
. In other words, the default gateway is not the IP address of a switch or an ISP device in the cloud but specifically the router interface that links the local LAN to other networks. This interface must have an IP address within the same subnet as PC1 and acts as the path for all traffic leaving the local network segment
. To summarize:
- The default gateway is the IP address of the router interface connected to PC1's LAN.
- It routes packets from PC1 to destinations outside the local network.
- It is the first hop for traffic leaving the local subnet.
This definition aligns with standard networking principles where the default gateway is the router interface that connects the local network to other networks or the Internet
