Network Bridges And Routers

BRIDGING VERSUS ROUTING NAME OF STUDENT NAME OF SCHOOL SUBMITTED TO DATE  Bridging versus routing Introduction “Routing control protocol is essential in order to dynamically determine the topology of the network and to detect failing links. Bridging control protocols may be used similarly in smaller networks or may be used in combination with routing.” Higginson & Shand (1997). Bridge and routers are applied in computer networking as they both connect two or more interrelated Local Area Networks (LAN) therefore creating an extension of the Local Area Network or a Wide Area Network. Bridges operates on MAC layer addresses and at the data link layer of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model whereas routers operate on the network control layer - third layer of the OSI model. Since routers do not have the ability to learn addresses as bridges do, they rely more on processing the data. Routers must also be aware of the protocol they serve thus have more complex configuration and installation requirements unlike bridges. Bridging versus routing Routers forward data packet across networks of different identities therefore conducting a traffic direction task within the network. They store containing source network address and destination and forward them to destination terminals – from one WAN or LAN to another. Routers find the best pat for data packets sent from previous router to them or the end station of the Local Area Network. Routers operate on the network control layer. Network control layer control flow of messages, addresses messages, sets up communication path between terminals and routes messages across intervening nodes to their destination. ...

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