Routers, switches, and transmission equipment form the backbone of the Internet, yet many users and service technicians do not understand how these nodes really work. Advanced Router Architectures addresses how components of advanced routers work together and how they are integrated with each other. This book provides the background behind why these building blocks perform certain functions, and how the function is implemented in general use. It offers an introduction to the subject matter that is intended to trigger deeper interest from the reader. The book explains, for example, why traffic management may be important in certain applications, what the traffic manager does, and how it connects to the rest of the router. The author also examines the implications of the introduction or omission of a traffic manager into an advanced router. The text offers a similar analysis for other router topics such as QOS and policy enforcement, security processing (including DoS/DDoS), and more. This book covers which mandatory and which optional building blocks can be found in an advanced router, and how these building blocks operate in conjunction to ensure that the Internet performs as expected.