Sure, a PIX (or ASA) can route. Sure a router can do packet filtering and what not.
To be clear, the PIX is an end of life product that I believe goes end of support for the last few models by the middle of 2013. It has been replaced with the ASA which is very similar but much more capable and complete in features. A router can filter but it has a limited amount of resources to do so. This makes the router less ideal for this sort of task but ideal in places where some capability is needed. A PIX can take the place of a router but it is far less capable in this task. I don't recall if a PIX is capable of even running more than RIP. I know and ASA supports most of the IGPs but I've never used one to do actual routing. It's capable of it but is it wise to use it as such? They both have shared features but their hardware is designed for a specific purpose and while some of those shared features can be used you wouldn't want an ASA/PIX as your core routing device and you wouldn't want a router as your primary firewall. -Mike
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