Network Bridge

Network Bridge

What is a network Bridge, What is a network Switch


A Bridge/Switch is a network device that typically operates at the Data Link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model. A bridge or switch performs the its job by examining the Data Link Layer (Layer 2) data packet (Ethernet Frame) and forwarding the packet to other devices based on Layer 2 addresses (MAC Addresses). Both switches and bridges function using Data Link Layer (Layer 2) addressing system, also known as MAC addresses.


Each port of a network switch is in a separate collision domain and therefore Switches are used to divide a big collision domain into multiple smaller collision domains.


Bridge has only few ports and connect only a few collision domains, or Hosts. A Bridge has comparatively less ports than a Switch. A Switch has usually 24 ports or 48 ports. Brides and Switches are considered to operate at the Data Link Layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model.


Following picture shows a 24 port, 10/100, Cisco 2950 Catalist Switch.




Following image shows a 24 port, 10/100, Cisco 2960 Switch





Difference between Network Switches and Bridges


Network Switches and Bridges are both Layer 2 devices. They operate at the Data Link Layer (Layer 2) of the OSI Reference Model. Network Switches and Bridges have many similarities and similar function. But Switches are considered as superior devices than bridges.


Following are the major differences between Network Switchs and Bridges.


• Packet forwarding in Bridges are performed using software. Packet forwarding in Switches are performed using ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits).


• Switches operate comparatively higher speeds that Bridges.


• Method of switching of a Bridge is store and forward. Method of switching of a Switch can be store and forward, cut-through or fragment-free.


• Normally a Switch has more ports than a Bridge.


• Bridges can operate only in half duplex mode, but a Switch can operate both in half duplex or full duplex mode.


• Both Bridge and Switch has one collision domain per port, but switches have one broadcast domain per VLAN.


• Switchs support full-duplex Local Area Network (LAN) communication.



Chapter 1 :- Introduction to Computer Networking

Chapter 2 :- What is a Computer Network

Chapter 3 :- Why we need computer networks 

Chapter 4 :- Client Operating Systems

Chapter 5 :- Common Network Application Software 

Chapter 6 :- LAN and WAN

Chapter 7 :- CAN and MAN 

Chapter 8 :- Peer-to-Peer networks and Client-Server networks

Chapter 9 :- Centralized and Distributed Computer Networks

Chapter 10 :- Internetworks, Internet, Intranet and Extranet

Chapter 11 :- What is a Network Protocol

Chapter 12 :- Difference between Proprietary and Standard Protocols

Chapter 13 :- What are RFCs

Chapter 14 :- Organizations which control Internet 

Chapter 15 :- Bus Topology

Chapter 16 :- Star Topology 

Chapter 17 :- Mesh, Ring and Hybrid Topologies

Chapter 18 :- Network Infrastructure Devices and Icons 

Chapter 19 :- Network Hub

Chapter 20 :- Network Bridge

Chapter 21 :- What is a Router 

Chapter 21 :- What is a Firewall

Chapter 22 :- Office Networks 

Chapter 23 :- Hub-and-spoke WAN topology

Chapter 24 :- Partial-Mesh WAN topology

Chapter 25 :- Full-mesh Site-to-site WAN topology 

Chapter 26 :- What is NIC 

Chapter 27 :- Common Network Cable types

Chapter 28 :- Difference between Baseband and Broadband

Chapter 29 :- CSMA/CD, CSMA/CA and Token Passing

Chapter 30 :- LAN Technologies Ethernet 

Chapter 31 :- Ethernet Media Standards 

Chapter 32 :- What is Token Ring 

Chapter 33 :- What is FDDI

Chapter 34 :- IEEE 802 Standards 

Networking Interview Questions :- 1

Networking Interview Questions :- 2

Networking Interview Questions :- 3

Networking Interview Questions :- 4

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