%META:TOPICINFO{author="ChrisBartram" date="1170392152" format="1.1" version="1.2"}%
%META:TOPICPARENT{name="Hp3000BridgingAndRouting"}%
---+ A Bridge vs a Router

In general, routers pass higher-level networking traffic (IP/IPX/AppleTalk and above -- on the OSI 7 layer model). Bridges carry lower-level protocols, including low-level broadcasts and routing queries. In practice, many modern models are hybrids (sometimes called "brouters") and can be configured to handle mixes of traffic levels. Routing is usually a slower operation as more intelligence is required; routers usually interpret the packets traveling over the wire and only pass those packets which the device on the other end of their router-link might need. Bridges on the other hand usually just pass all traffic coming in to all the other (outbound) interfaces; since there is no lookups or interpretations they can do this much faster, often at full interface speed (or close to it). 


-- Main.RcBartram - 08 Jun 2006