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Routers:
- Routers operate at Layer 3 (Network Layer) of the OSI model.
- They connect different networks and forward data packets based on the information in the packet's IP address.
- Routers maintain routing tables that contain information about the best paths to different destinations.
- When a router receives a packet, it examines the destination IP address, consults its routing table, and forwards the packet to the next router or directly to the destination host.
- Routers forward packets efficiently, but the process involves more complex decision-making compared to bridges.
Bridges:
- Bridges operate at Layer 2 (Data Link Layer) of the OSI model.
- They connect segments of a single network (usually a Local Area Network or LAN).
- Bridges forward data frames (Layer 2 units of data) based on the Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of the devices on the network.
- When a bridge receives a frame, it examines the destination MAC address, forwards it to the appropriate segment if the destination is within the LAN, or drops it if the destination is outside the LAN.
- Bridges forward packets quickly and efficiently within a single network, but they do not have the routing intelligence and IP-based decision-making capabilities of routers.
In summary, while both routers and bridges forward data packets, they operate at different OSI layers and serve different functions. Routers handle inter-network communication and IP routing, while bridges forward data within a single network based on MAC addresses. Routers are typically slower than bridges due to the additional processing involved in routing decisions, but they enable communication between different networks and provide more advanced features like path selection and traffic management.