Networks Fundemantals 1

Lecture 6 Switching , Bridging and Routing

What Are Bridges and Switches?

Bridges and switches are data communications devices that operate principally at Layer 2
of the OSI reference model. As such, they are widely referred to as data link layer devices.

Bridges became commercially available in the early 1980s. At the time of their introduction,
bridges connected and enabled packet forwarding between homogeneous networks. More
recently, bridging between different networks has also been defined and standardized.

Several kinds of bridging have proven important as internetworking devices. Transparent

bridging is found primarily in Ethernet environments, while source-route bridging occurs
primarily in Token Ring environments. Translational bridging provides translation between
the formats and transit principles of different media types (usually Ethernet and Token
Ring). Finally, source-route transparent bridging combines the algorithms of transparent
bridging and source-route bridging to enable communication in mixed Ethernet/Token Ring
environments.

2000’s +, switching technology has emerged as the evolutionary heir to bridging-based

internetworking solutions. Switching implementations now dominate applications in which
bridging technologies were implemented in prior network designs. Superior throughput
performance, higher port density, lower per-port cost, and greater flexibility have
contributed to the emergence of switches as replacement technology for bridges and as
complements to routing technology.

Bridges and Switches are pretty similar, both operate at the Data Link layer (Layer 2) and
both can filter data so that only the appropriate segment or host receives a transmission.

Both filter packets based on the physical address (MAC – Media Access Control – address)
of the sender/receiver although newer switches sometimes include the capabilities of a
router and can forward data based on IP address (operating at the Network Layer) and are
referred to as IP Switches.
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Lecture 6 Switching , Bridging and Routing

Often the desired results could be achieved using either a switch or a bridge but “in general”
bridges are used to extend the distance capabilities of the network while minimizing overall
traffic, and switches are used to primarily for their filtering capabilities to create multiple,
smaller virtual LAN’s out of one large LAN for easier management/administration
(VLAN’s). But Switches are considered as superior devices than Bridges.

Difference between Bridge and Switch

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Lecture 6 Switching , Bridging and Routing

What is a router?

A router is a device that connects two or more packet-switched networks or subnetworks. It

serves two primary functions: managing traffic between these networks by forwarding data
packets to their intended IP addresses, and allowing multiple devices to use the same Internet
connection.

There are several types of routers, but most routers pass data between LANs (local area
networks) and WANs (wide area networks). A LAN is a group of connected devices
restricted to a specific geographic area. A LAN usually requires a single router.

A WAN, by contrast, is a large network spread out over a vast geographic area. Large
organizations and companies that operate in multiple locations across the country, for
instance, will need separate LANs for each location, which then connect to the other LANs
to form a WAN. Because a WAN is distributed over a large area, it often necessitates
multiple routers and switches.

How does a router work?

Think of a router as an air traffic controller and data packets as aircraft headed to different
airports (or networks). Just as each plane has a unique destination and follows a unique
route, each packet needs to be guided to its destination as efficiently as possible. In the same
way that an air traffic controller ensures that planes reach their destinations without getting
lost or suffering a major disruption along the way, a router helps direct data packets to their
destination IP address.

In order to direct packets effectively, a router uses an internal routing table a list of paths to
various network destinations. The router reads a packet's header to determine where it is
going, then consults the routing table to figure out the most efficient path to that destination.
It then forwards the packet to the next network in the path.
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Lecture 6 Switching , Bridging and Routing

What is the difference between a router and a modem?

Although some Internet service providers (ISPs) may combine a router and a modem within
a single device, they are not the same. Each plays a different but equally important role in
connecting networks to each other and to the Internet.

A router forms networks and manages the flow of data within and between those networks,
while a modem connects those networks to the Internet. Modems forge a connection to the
Internet by converting signals from an ISP into a digital signal that can be interpreted by
any connected device. A single device may plug into a modem in order to connect to the
Internet; alternately, a router can help distribute this signal to multiple devices within an
established network, allowing all of them to connect to the Internet simultaneously.

Think of it like this: If Bob has a router, but no modem, he will be able to create a LAN and
send data between the devices on that network. However, he will not be able to connect that
network to the Internet. Alice, on the other hand, has a modem, but no router. She will be
able to connect a single device to the Internet (for example, her work laptop), but cannot
distribute that Internet connection to multiple devices (say, her laptop and her smartphone).
Carol, meanwhile, has a router and a modem. Using both devices, she can form a LAN with
her desktop computer, tablet, and smartphone and connect them all to the Internet at the
same time.

What is a network switch?

A network switch connects devices within a network (often a local area network, or LAN*)
and forwards data packets to and from those devices. Unlike a router, a switch only sends
data to the single device it is intended for (which may be another switch, a router, or a user's
computer), not to networks of multiple devices.
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Lecture 6 Switching , Bridging and Routing

What is the difference between a switch and a router?

Routers select paths for data packets to cross networks and reach their destinations. Routers

do this by connecting with different networks and forwarding data from network to network

including LANs, wide area networks (WANs), or autonomous systems, which are the large

networks that make up the Internet.

Routers select paths for data packets to cross networks and reach their destinations. Routers

do this by connecting with different networks and forwarding data from network to network

including LANs, wide area networks (WANs), or autonomous systems, which are the large

networks that make up the Internet.