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    network bridge

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by shift_47_, Jan 7, 2006.

  1. shift_47_

    shift_47_ Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just reinstalled everything because of a fried hard drive and Ive noticed some different things going on with my network connection. First of all i have the intel pro set managing my connection but whenever i restart the computer it says that something else is using the connection so i have to click enable. So i looked around and notice that there is some network bridge set up under my network connections. Before the install this wasnt there and I was using windows to manage my wireless but I dont like it as much. Also i am sharing a printer and files occasionaly with another computer which seems to work now but im confused about this bridge thing as it was not here before and i would like my intel proset to connect when the computer is started so I do not have to click connect.
     
    shift_47_, Jan 7, 2006
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  2. lmychajluk

    lmychajluk Notebook Evangelist

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    Are you using Internet Connection Sharing? That may show up as a 'bridge' in your network settings (you're 'bridging' the connection between the internet and your LAN). If not, list everything that shows up in Network Connections.

    I don't think an actual bridge (device) would show up in Network Connections.
     
    lmychajluk, Jan 9, 2006
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  3. Sidicas

    Sidicas Notebook Consultant

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    That's correct. The bridge that shows up in Network Connections isn't a physical device. It means that your computer is broadcasting traffic from one network connection to another OR from a network connection to a software loopback (used by other applications running on your computer to "tap into" the network information being sent to an application running on your computer). Unless you are using your computer to connect wireless traffic to ethernet traffic, then as far as I know, you don't need that bridge.

    For example, if you have 5 computers on a wireless network all connected to each other.

    And 5 computers on ethernet all connected to each other.

    But the wireless computers and ethernet computers aren't connected to each other.

    Setting up a bridge could allow your wireless notebook to connect the wireless computers to the ethernet computers by sending all traffic through your laptop. But this requires turning on your wireless and also plugging your 10/100 Ethernet jack into the ethernet computers. And also configuring your bridge correctly.

    There are other things that use software "bridges" as well, such as software that taps the network connection (packet sniffers, network diagnostic tools, etc. installed on your laptop).. One of the most popular of the software "tap" packages is called WinPCap. Check to see if this is installed on your laptop. WinPCap is usually installed along with other software. Its required for CoLinux, WC3BanList, and many other applications. Its not just a piece of software, but also a "driver" package as well.


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winpcap
     
    Sidicas, Jan 9, 2006
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