Bridge Interface Screen - ZyXEL Communications ZyWall USG 50-H Series User Manual

8.14 Bridge Interface Screen

A bridge creates a connection between two or more network segments at the layer-2 (MAC
address) level.
Unlike the device-wide bridge mode in ZyNOS-based ZyWALLs, this ZyWALL can bridge
traffic between some interfaces while it routes traffic for other interfaces. The bridge interfaces
also support more functions, like interface bandwidth parameters, DHCP settings, and ping
check. To use the whole ZyWALL as a transparent bridge, add all of the ZyWALL's interfaces
to a bridge interface.
In the following example, bridge X connects four network segments.
Figure 159 Bridge Example
When the bridge receives a packet, the bridge records the source MAC address and the port on
which it was received in a table. It also looks up the destination MAC address in the table. If
the bridge knows on which port the destination MAC address is located, it sends the packet to
that port. If the destination MAC address is not in the table, the bridge broadcasts the packet
on every port (except the one on which it was received).
In the example above, computer A sends a packet to computer B. Bridge X records the source
address 0A:0A:0A:0A:0A:0A and port 2 in the table. It also looks up 0B:0B:0B:0B:0B:0B in
the table. There is no entry yet, so the bridge broadcasts the packet on ports 1, 3, and 4.
Table 69 Example: Bridge Table After Computer A Sends a Packet to Computer B
MAC ADDRESS
0A:0A:0A:0A:0A:0A
If computer B responds to computer A, bridge X records the source address
0B:0B:0B:0B:0B:0B and port 4 in the table. It also looks up 0A:0A:0A:0A:0A:0A in the table
and sends the packet to port 2 accordingly.
Table 70 Example: Bridge Table After Computer B Responds to Computer A
MAC ADDRESS
0A:0A:0A:0A:0A:0A
0B:0B:0B:0B:0B:0B
ZyWALL USG 50-H User's Guide
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Chapter 8 Interface
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