Experiment-9

To Study Types of bridges and routers

A Bridge is another device used to connect LAN cable segments together. Bridge operates at the
data link layer of OSI model.
A Bridge provides packet filtering at data link layer, meaning that it only passes the packets that
are destinated for the other side of the network.a Bridge has two or more network interface (own
MAC address)connected to different cable segments and operating promiscuous mode.
Types of Bridges.
Three types of Bridges are used in network.
1> Transperent Bridge.
2> Translational Bridge.
3> Source-route Bridge.

Transperent Bridge :
Transperent Bridges is invisible to the other evices on the network. Transperent Bridge only
perform the function of blocking or forwarding data based on MAC address. MAC address may
also be referred as hardware address or physical address. These addresses are used to built tables
and make decision regarding whether a frame should be forward and where it should be
forwarded.

Translational Bridge :
Translational Bridges are usefull to connect segments running at different speeds or using
different protocols such as token Ring and Ethernet networks. Depending onthe direction of
travel, a Translational Bridge can add or remove information and fi elds from frame as needed.

Source-route Bridge :

Source-route Bridges were designed by IBM for use on Token ring networks. the sr Bridge
derives the entire route of the frame embedded within the frame. This allows the Bridge to make
specific decision about how the frame should be forwarded through the network.

Other than above, there are also Local Bridge, Remote Bridge.

Local Bridge :
A Local Bridge provides paket filtering and repeating services fot the network segments of the
same type. this is also called MAC-layer Bridge. This is the simplest type of Bridge because it
has no need for packet filtering or buffering. This Bridge simply propagates the incoming
packets to the appropriate ports or discard them.

Remote Bridge :
Remote Bridge connects network segments at different locatios, using WAN link such as
MODEM or Leased line. The difference in speed between Local and wide area links, a remote
Bridge uses internal buffer to store the data received from LAN while it is waiting for
transmission to the remote site.

Routers
A router is used to route data packets between two networks. It reads the information in each
packet to tell where it is going. If it is destined for an immediate network it has access to, it will
strip the outer packet (IP packet for example), readdress the packet to the proper ethernet
address, and transmit it on that network. If it is destined for another network and must be sent to
another router, it will re-package the outer packet to be received by the next router and send it to
the next router. Routing occurs at the network layer of the OSI model. They can connect
networks with different architectures such as Token Ring and Ethernet. Although they can
transform information at the data link level, routers cannot transform information from one data
format such as TCP/IP to another such as IPX/SPX. Routers do not send broadcast packets or
corrupted packets. If the routing table does not indicate the proper address of a packet, the
packet is discarded. There are two types of routers:
1. Static routers - Are configured manually and route data packets based on information in a
router table.

2. Dynamic routers - Use dynamic routing algorithms. There are two types of algorithms:
o Distance vector - Based on hop count, and periodically broadcasts the routing
table to other routers which takes more network bandwidth especially with more
routers. RIP uses distance vectoring. Does not work on WANs as well as it does
on LANs.
o Link state - Routing tables are broadcast at startup and then only when they
change. The open shortest path first (OSPF) protocol uses the link state routing
method to configure routes or distance vector algorithm (DVA).
There is a device called a brouter which will function similar to a bridge for network transport
protocols that are not routable, and will function as a router for routable protocols. It functions at
the network and data link layers of the OSI network model.
A router has access to the network layer address or logical address (IP address). It contains a
routing table that enables it to make decisions about the route i.e. to determine which of several
possible paths between the source and destination is the best for a particular transmission. These
routing tables are dynamic and are updated using routing protocols.
The routers receive the packets from one connected network and pass them to a second
connected network. However, if a received packet contains the address of a node that is on some
other network (of which the router is not a member), the router determines which of its
connected networks is the best next relay point for that packet. Once the router has identified the
best route for a packet to travel, it passes the packet along the appropriate network to another
router. That router checks the destination address, find what it considers the best route for the
packet and passes it to the destination network.

Types of Routers

There are several types of routers in the market.

Broadband Routers
Broadband routers can do different types of things. Broadband routers can be used to connect
computers or to connect to the Internet.
If you connect to the internet through phone and using Voice over IP technology (VOIP) then
you need broadband router. These are often a special type of modem (ADSL) that will have both
Ethernet and phone jacks.
Wireless Routers
Wireless routers create a wireless signal in your home or office. So, any PC within range of
Wireless routers can connect it and use your Internet.
In order to secure your Wireless routers, you simply need to come secure it with password or get
your IP address. Then, you'll log on into your router with the user ID and passwords will that
come with your router.
Other Type of Router
Edge Router
This type of router are placed at the edge of the ISP network, the are normally configured to
external protocol like BGP (Border gateway protocol) to another BGP of other ISP or large
organisation.
Subscriber Edge Router
This type of router belongs to an end user (enterprise) organization. Its configured to broadcast
external BGP to its providers AS(s)
Inter-provider Border Router
This type of router is for Interconnecting ISPs, this is a BGP speaking router that maintains BGP
sessions with other BGP speaking routers in other providers' ASes.
Core Router
A router that resides within the middle or backbone of the LAN network rather than at its
periphery. In some instances , a core router provides a stepdown backbone , interconnecting the
distribution routers from multiple building of a campus ( LAN), or Large enterprise Location
(WAN). They tend to be optimized for a high brandwidth.
Wired and Wireless Routers.
Home and small office networking is becoming popular by day by the use of IP wired and
wireless router.Wired and wireless router are able to maintain routing and configuration

information in their routing table. They also provide the service of filtering traffic of incoming
and outgoing packets based on IP addresses.
Some wireless routers combines the functions of router with those of a network switch and that
of a firewall in one.