Enabling The Bridge Mode Option {Bridge Mode - Nomadix Access Gateway User Manual

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Enabling the Bridge Mode Option {Bridge Mode}

Bridge Mode allows complete and unconditional access to devices on the subscriber side of the
Access Gateway. When the Bridge Mode option is enabled, the Access Gateway is effectively
transparent to the network in which it is located, allowing clusters of switches (especially Cisco
Systems switch clusters) to be managed using the STP (Spanning Tree Protocol), or any other
algorithm/protocol. The Access Gateway forwards any and all packets (except those addressed
to the Access Gateway network interface). The packets are unmodified and can be forwarded
in both directions. This is a very useful feature when troubleshooting your entire network as it
allows administrators to effectively "remove" the Access Gateway from the network without
physically disconnecting the unit.
You can still manage the Access Gateway when Bridge Mode is enabled, but you have no other
functionality. If you enable the Bridge Mode option and then plug the Access Gateway into a
network, all you need to do is assign it routable IP addresses. You can then set up all other
features and disable the Bridge Mode option whenever you want to start using the Access
Gateway in that network.
This procedure shows you how to enable the Bridge Mode option.
222 System Administration