What is Bridges?

Bridges are devices (computer) that can transmit data between two heterogeneous LAN. Bridges divided a large network into smaller segment. They also filter data and keep the traffic separate for each segment.

When a packet enters a bridge, it reads the address contained in the frame and compares that address with a table. When the bridge finds a match, it sends the packet to the destination segment.

A bridge operates in the following manners:

a) It receives all signals from both segment A and B.

b) It reads the address and filters all signals from segment A that are addressed to the segment because they need cross the bridge.

c) Signal from segment A addressed to a computer on segment B are transmitted to segment B.

d)The signals from segment B are treated in a similar way.