Bridges vs Routers

Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:19 pm

What is the differences between the Bridges and Routers?
Both store-and-forward devices

routers: network layer devices (examine network layer headers)
bridges are Link Layer devices

Routers maintain routing tables, implement routing algorithms

Bridges maintain filtering tables, implement filtering, learning and spanning tree algorithms .

: image show the difference between the bridge and router.

In addition to that, Bridge operation is simpler requiring less processing .

Topologies are restricted with bridges: a spanning tree must be built to avoid cycles .
Bridges do not offer protection from broadcast storms (endless broadcasting by a host will be forwarded by a bridge) .