← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

Default gateway

The router address a device sends data to when the destination is not on its own network. It is usually the router's LAN address. With no gateway set, a device cannot reach the internet.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Networked Systems and Access Control — Module 27, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Network Communications — Module 50

Understanding Default gateway in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

What it does: Both addresses begin 192.168.1, so the gateway is on the device's own network and is the router's LAN-side address. Local access works but internet access fails. That points to the default gateway being missing or wrong, since it is the way out of the local network.

Common mistakes: The default gateway is the router's LAN address, so it must be on the same network as the device. With mask 255.255.255.0 and IP 192.168.1.20, the gateway should be 192.168.1.1, not 192.168.2.1. The default gateway is usually the router's LAN address (10.0.0.1 here). 8.8.8.8 is a public server on another network, so it is not the gateway.

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Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 12–34) and word search (Modules 12–55).

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Learning

Duo

A laptop wants to reach a website that is not on its own network. Where does it send the data first?

To the default gatewayStraight to the website's server

Matches

IP: 192.168.1.25 Gateway: 10.0.0.1

↓

The gateway is on a different network from the device. A gateway must be a router address on the device's own network, such as 192.168.1.1.

Applying

Meanings

Term

default gateway

Meaning

The router address a device sends data to when the destination is not on its own network. It is usually the router's LAN address. With no gateway set, a device cannot reach the internet.

Practice

gateway <- "192.168.1.1"

Testing

Gaps

Default . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Check Answer

Spots

2Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

3Default gateway: 192.168.2.1

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Quick Questions

1. A laptop wants to reach a website that is not on its own network. Where does it send the data first?

A. Straight to the website's server

B. To the default gateway ✓

The default gateway is the router address a device uses when the destination is not on its own network. The router then passes the data on.

2. Which address is usually used as the default gateway on a home network?

A. The laptop's own MAC address

B. The router's LAN address, e.g. 192.168.1.1 ✓

The default gateway is usually the router's address on the local network (its LAN address). A MAC address is not used for this.

3. A phone at 192.168.1.20 sends data to a printer at 192.168.1.30 on the same network. Is the default gateway needed?

A. No, the destination is on the local network ✓

B. Yes, all data must go via the gateway

The gateway is only used when the destination is not on the device's own network. Local traffic stays on the LAN.

4. A student's computer has no default gateway set. What happens when they try to open a website?

A. The device cannot reach the internet ✓

B. The device finds the website another way

With no gateway, the device has no exit from its local network, so it can talk to local devices but cannot reach the internet.

5. Which statement about the default gateway is correct?

A. It is the exit point from the local network ✓

B. It turns domain names into IP addresses

Turning domain names into IP addresses is the job of DNS. The default gateway is the exit from the local network, usually the router.

Match the Pairs

Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1 → The router address this device sends data to when the destination is outside its own network

ipconfig → A Windows command that shows a device's IP address, subnet mask and default gateway

The default gateway is usually the router's LAN address, so it sits in the same network as the device → IP: 192.168.1.25 Gateway: 192.168.1.1

Data for a destination on another network, such as a website, is sent to the gateway first → destination not local -> send to gateway

IP: 192.168.1.25 Gateway: 10.0.0.1 → The gateway is on a different network from the device. A gateway must be a router address on the device's own network, such as 192.168.1.1.

Gateway: (blank) - the internet works fine → With no default gateway set, a device cannot send data outside its own network, so it cannot reach the internet. It could still talk to local devices.

Key Term

default gateway

The router address a device sends data to when the destination is not on its own network. It is usually the router's LAN address. With no gateway set, a device cannot reach the internet.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Default Gateway . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Hint: Type the word that names the router address a device uses to leave its own network.

2. IF gateway = NONE THEN internet = FALSE

Hint: Type the Boolean value that shows the device cannot reach the internet without a gateway.

3. IF NOT same_network(dest, my_ip) THEN send_to(gateway)

Hint: Type the logical operator that tests whether the destination is outside the local network.

4. IF destination is on my network THEN send directly to the destination ELSE send to the default gateway

Hint: Type the keyword that covers the case where the destination is not on the local network.

5. Router LAN address: 192.168.1.1 Default gateway: 192.168.1.1

Hint: Type the address that matches the router's LAN address shown on the line above.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A IP address: 192.168.1.20

B Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

C Default gateway: 192.168.2.1

Line C — The default gateway is the router's LAN address, so it must be on the same network as the device. With mask 255.255.255.0 and IP 192.168.1.20, the gateway should be 192.168.1.1, not 192.168.2.1.

Question 2

A IP address: 10.0.0.15

B Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

C Router LAN address: 10.0.0.1

D Default gateway: 8.8.8.8

Line D — The default gateway is usually the router's LAN address (10.0.0.1 here). 8.8.8.8 is a public server on another network, so it is not the gateway.

Question 3

A destination = 8.8.8.8

B IF destination on my network

C send directly

D ELSE send to DHCP server

Line D — When the destination is not on the device's own network, the data goes to the default gateway (the router). A DHCP server only hands out addresses; it does not forward data.

Question 4

A IF destination is remote

B discard the packet

C ELSE

D send directly

Line B — If the destination is outside the local network, the device sends the data to the default gateway so the router can pass it on. It should not discard the packet.

Question 5

A gateway = web server address

B IF gateway is empty

C no internet access

Line A — The default gateway is the router's LAN address, not the address of a web server. The device sends data to the router, which passes it on.

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