Difference between router, bridge, and access point?!??!

[Techie333]

Okay, I have a wireless network setup in my house and works fine and everything. But I'm trying to figure out what a ethernet bridge and an access point is? Supposedly, by my understanding an access point does the same thing as a router?!?! And a bridge does the same thing as a wireless notebook adapter or pci wireless card?

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: Techie333
Supposedly, by my understanding an access point does the same thing as a router?!?!

Not really, but for small home installation purposes that's roughly true. You can find some good info on the details at Jack's page.

And a bridge does the same thing as a wireless notebook adapter or pci wireless card?

Again, not really. You could use a bridge like an adapter, but it's really a more general purpose piece of technology. For example, if you have a group of computers in a room where wireless is available but hardwiring is difficult, you can run a bridge to a switch. Then all the PC's can connect to the switch just like it's a plain old Ethernet connection.

 

[ktwebb]

Originally posted by: Techie333
Okay, I have a wireless network setup in my house and works fine and everything. But I'm trying to figure out what a ethernet bridge and an access point is? Supposedly, by my understanding an access point does the same thing as a router?!?! And a bridge does the same thing as a wireless notebook adapter or pci wireless card?

your getting bad information. A router routes traffic between two network interfaces, in your case the internet and your local network. An AP is a wireless hub. Just broadcasts to wireless clients. Does no routing. A bridge in the wireless world is either two wireless devices that connect two netorks. Both sides of the bridge will use the same IP segments. A wireless ethernet bridge does basically the same thing as a point to point bridge but associates to an Access Point.

Google.

 

[Nothinman]

Supposedly, by my understanding an access point does the same thing as a router?!?!

No, generally an AP does the same thing as a bridge. It connects two networks of a different medium, i.e. wired and wireless, but of the same IP range. A router connects two different IP networks, i.e. 10.1.1.0/24 and 192.168.0.0/16. The router could also be a bridge at the same time, it depends on the network configuration.

 

[daveshel]

A wireless access point is the same thing as a router (only wireless) and operates at the third (Network) layer of the OSI model, while a bridges operates at the second (Data Link) layer.

 

[Nothinman]

A wireless access point is the same thing as a router (only wireless) and operates at the third (Network) layer of the OSI model, while a bridges operates at the second (Data Link) layer.

Not always, there are APs that are merely bridges. It would be stupid to have to setup a whole new IP range for wireless clients for your house.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: daveshel
A wireless access point is the same thing as a router (only wireless) and operates at the third (Network) layer of the OSI model, while a bridges operates at the second (Data Link) layer.

Sorry but this is Not true.

A Cable/DSL Router is a combo unit of Routing circuit and a switch that were put in the same plastic box.

A Wireless Cable/DSL Router is a combo unit of Routing Circuit a Switch and an Access Point, that were put in the same plastic box.

Access Point a Wireless version of a simple HUB.

So, a Wireless Cable/DSL Router is a combo unit of Routing Circuit + Switch + Wireless Hub. All together in the same plastic box.

:sun: