On Friday 07 January 2005 09:28 pm, SOTL wrote:
> Hi All
>
> What is the difference between a wireless router and a wireless bridge?
> Just so I do not confuse people I know a router goes on the line side and
> the bridge goes on the computer side but really is the difference? Or to
> ask this question another can one convert a Netgear wireless router into a
> wireless bridge? The reason I ask this question is that I need a wireless
> bridge but they cost $125.00 at CompUSA while they have wireless routers
> class b on sale for $10.00 and since $10.00 sounds much more affordable to
> me than $125 I would like to know if one can convert the router to a
> bridge.
>
> Frank
>
> PS they have class G for $29.00. Last day of sale is 8 Jan 05.
A router routes traffic between different subnets. It has an ip address on
each network. You tell your computer how to A. get out of your subnet to find
all the others, or B. to find one or more specific subnets.
A bridge connects different network topologies, like fiber and twisted pair,
and does not have any ip address.
Now you cannot use a bridge as a router, again due to the fact that it does
not have an ip. You cannot say go to this ip to get to someplace.
Now, things are changing as people realizes things you can do by mixing up
these features. F.ex. in OpenBSD you can have a bridge as a firewall. It's
now a firewall that you cannot reach from the network so it's very safe.
It's also an excellent way of firewalling off a portion of your network by
invisibly inserting it f.ex. outside the accounting network.
--Steve Szmidt
"They that would give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This list is provided as an unmoderated internet service by Networked Knowledge Systems (NKS). Views and opinions expressed in messages posted are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NKS or any of its employees.
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