Different typesBridgesThey play an important role in the network, and they have different working principles and application scenarios. Here's a comparison of transparent, learning, and switched bridges:
Transparent bridge: works at the data link layer and its main function is to transfer data frames between two or more network segments.
With transparent bridges, devices in the network do not need to configure additional parameters because they are transparent to the network and do not affect the existing network structure and configuration.
The downside is that in large networks, transparent bridges can cause broadcast storms because they can't stop broadcast frames from propagating throughout the network.
February**Dynamic Incentive Program Learning Bridge (also known as Smart Bridge):
Compared to transparent bridges, learning bridges have a more intelligent feature of being able to learn the MAC addresses of different devices in the network and frame data based on the learned information.
Learning bridges enable more efficient data** by establishing a MAC address table to track the location of individual devices in the network, reducing the occurrence of broadcast storms.
Learning bridges require some configuration and management, but are generally less expensive than switched bridges.
Switched bridges (also known as switches):
Switched bridges are functionally similar to learning bridges, but typically have higher performance and richer features.
Switched bridges typically have multiple ports that can connect multiple devices at the same time, and can carry out data between different ports** for efficient communication within the LAN.
Switched bridges typically have more complex management functions and can perform advanced operations such as traffic control and VLAN partitioning.
Switched bridges are often used to build large enterprise networks or data center networks for high performance and scalability.
In general, transparent bridges are the most basic type of bridges, learning bridges add certain intelligent functions to them, and switched bridges are the most powerful and flexible types of bridges, suitable for more complex network environments. Choosing the right bridge type depends on the size of the network, performance needs, and management and cost considerations.