RFRouter vs. Bridge: Key Differences Explained
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This article compares routers and bridges, highlighting the differences between them.
The primary distinction between a router and a bridge lies in their connectivity capabilities: a router connects various types of LANs, whereas a bridge connects LANs of the same type.
Key Differences: Router vs. Bridge
Here’s a table summarizing the key differences:
| Feature | Router | Bridge |
|---|---|---|
| Addressing | Uses software-configured network addresses (IP addresses) | Determines the destination address using the MAC address (Ethernet address) of the device |
| Routing Tables | Employs routing tables to direct data to the destination | Does not rely on other devices to transfer data; directly forwards based on MAC address |
| Path Selection | Communicates with other routers to determine the optimal path for data transfer | Monitors network traffic using MAC addresses to identify the best path for sending data |
| Network Connectivity | Connects LAN and WAN links | Connects LAN links |
| Bandwidth Utilization | Optimized for traffic distribution across the network | Fixed by algorithms like “Spanning Tree Algorithm” or “Source Routing” |
| WAN Access | Enables construction of complex mesh networks with point-to-point links | Typically a single port configuration |
| Management | Provides statistics about specific protocols | Offers statistics on frames and bridge operations |
| Performance | Similar to bridges, but can control traffic by quenching sources | May experience performance degradation in high-traffic environments |
| Routing Protocol Examples | TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, Apple Talk | N/A |
| Bridge Types | N/A | Transparent bridge and translational bridge |
In Summary:
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Router: A network device that forwards data packets between computer networks. Routers perform the “traffic directing” functions on the Internet. A data packet is typically forwarded from one router to another through the networks that constitute the internetwork until it reaches its destination node.
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Bridge: A network device that connects two or more network segments, creating a single, larger network. Bridges operate at the data link layer of the OSI model. Bridges learn which MAC addresses are on each segment, forwarding traffic only when the destination is on a different segment.
