Bridges in Computer Networks

A bridge is an important device in computer networks used to connect network segments and manage data transmission. It connects two or more Local Area Networks (LANs) so they can work like a single large network. A bridge controls the transfer of data between different parts of the network and improves overall network performance.

A bridge works at the Data Link Layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model and uses MAC addresses to manage data transfer. It inspects incoming data packets, determines the destination MAC address, and forwards the packet only to the necessary segment, filtering unnecessary traffic.

Simple Bridge: A basic bridge connecting two network segments.

Multiport Bridge: Can connect several network segments at once.

Transparent Bridge: Works without any configuration and automatically learns the MAC addresses of devices on the network.

Advantages: Network segmentation, improved data transfer by reducing collisions, low cost, and enhanced security.

Limitations: Limited traffic management for large networks, can be slow, and is unsuitable for wide area networks (WANs).