BuildOrBuy Group Network
[ www.buildorbuy.org | www.buildorbuy.net ]

WinXP Network Bridge:

The network bridge provides an inexpensive and easy way to connect Local Area Network (LAN) segments. In the SOHO (Small Office Home Office) LAN, to create a network with more than one segment, we have two options: routing or bridging. The network bridge, in contrast, allows us to connect LAN segments by selecting the appropriate network connection icons and clicking Bridge Connections. Similar buttons allow you to enable the bridge and add connections to it. The network bridge manages your LAN segments and creates a single subnet for the entire network. There is no configuration required, and you do not need purchase additional hardware such as routers or bridges. IP addressing, address allocation, and name resolution is highly simplified in a single subnet IP network.

The network bridge can create connections between different types of network media. In a traditional (SOHO) network, when using mixed media types we need a separate subnet for each type of media, and packet forwarding is required between each one of the network's multiple subnets. Packet forwarding is required because different protocols are used for different types of media. Windows Network Bridge automates the configuration required in order to forward information from one type of media to another.

Only one bridge may exist on a Windows XP computer, but it can be used to bridge as many different network connections as the computer can physically accommodate. For information about creating a network bridge, see: WonXP Hwlp: Bridge Connections.

Internet Connection Sharing, Internet Connection Firewall, Discovery and Control, and Network Bridge are not available on Windows XP 64-Bit Edition.

To bridge connections:
1.) Open Network Connections.
2.) Under LAN or High-Speed Internet select each of the private network connections that you want to be part of the bridge.
3.) Right-click one of the highlighted private network connections, and then click Bridge Connections.

You must select at least two eligible network connections in order for Bridge Connections to create a bridge.