Difference Between Gateway and Half Gateway: The gateway is a device that connects different networks. The gateways are responsible for the transfer of messages, addresses, and protocol conversions between networks.
Their flexibility makes them ideal for inter networking communication. In theory, gateways can operate on all seven layers of the OSI model.
Gateways are protocol converters. By itself, a router transmits and receives packets only between networks that use similar protocols.
By contrast, a gateway can accept a packet in one format and convert it into another before forwarding it.
Difference Between Gateway and Half Gateway
Generally, a gateway is a piece of software installed within a router.
Gateways understand the protocols used by each network connected to the router and, as a result, can translate from one to another.
The gateway may modify only the headers and trailers of the packet in some cases, but it may also have to alter the data rate, packet size, and packet format.
At the transport layer, a gateway connects two networks.
Also Read: Difference Between List and Tuple In Python
An application gateway connects parts of an application at the application layer.
When a gateway connects two WANs run by separate companies, sometimes in different countries, the operation of one workstation-class machine can cause a lot of finger-pointing.
Two parts of the gateway are connected with a wire in the middle, effectively ripping it apart.
It is known half-gateway, and each of the halves is owned and operated by one of the network operators.
The whole issue of gatewaying then boils down to agreeing on a neutral protocol to use on the wire, which benefits neither party.