Difference between revisions of "Bridge"
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| − | A '''bridge''' is a type of [[packet switch]] which | + | A '''bridge''' is a type of [[packet switch]] which is fundamentally different from a [[router]]. It effectively unifies two otherwise separate [[physical network]]s; a [[host]] sending a [[packet]] cannot tell whether the destination [[network interface]] is on the same physical network as it is, or on another one, which is connected to its physical network through a bridge. The two physical networks must thus share a unified [[address space]]. |
| − | {{stub}} | + | The bridge thus operates on the [[protocol stack]] layer beneath the [[internetworking layer]]; bridges usually have no knowledge of that layer. A bridge operates mostly invisibly, and do not have its own address on the physical networks (although it may have one for |
| + | [[operation and maintenance]] purposes). | ||
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| + | A bridge thus needs no configuration; one merely plugs it in, and as soon as it is powered on, it starts to operate. (Hence the saying that "The advantage of a bridge is that it looks like a wire, but it isn't. The ''disadvantage'' of a bridge is that it looks like a wire, but it isn't.") | ||
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| + | {{semi-stub}} | ||
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| + | [[Category: Networking Basics]] | ||
Latest revision as of 05:32, 16 October 2023
A bridge is a type of packet switch which is fundamentally different from a router. It effectively unifies two otherwise separate physical networks; a host sending a packet cannot tell whether the destination network interface is on the same physical network as it is, or on another one, which is connected to its physical network through a bridge. The two physical networks must thus share a unified address space.
The bridge thus operates on the protocol stack layer beneath the internetworking layer; bridges usually have no knowledge of that layer. A bridge operates mostly invisibly, and do not have its own address on the physical networks (although it may have one for operation and maintenance purposes).
A bridge thus needs no configuration; one merely plugs it in, and as soon as it is powered on, it starts to operate. (Hence the saying that "The advantage of a bridge is that it looks like a wire, but it isn't. The disadvantage of a bridge is that it looks like a wire, but it isn't.")
