what is a network bridge in winXP good for?

[Lifer]

i read up on what it does, it connects 2 different types of networks so that it appears as a signal segment, but what really is it good for?
some examples they gave were 2 PNA PC's to connect to 2 ethernet PC's, but how likely is that?
if you were to connect wireless PC's to cat5 PC's, you're probably connected thru a wireless router anyway, so that won't be useful.


can i do this with it?
cable modem -> NIC1 of PC1 (which has 2 NIC's) -> PC2 with the NIC2 of PC1 (both NIC's in PC1 bridged)
will both PC's be able to get online thru this method without using ICS?

 

[JackMDS]

The bridging of WinXP can only bridge two private addresses.

Your Direct Connection to the Modem is a Public Address.

 

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
The bridging of WinXP can only bridge two private addresses.

Your Direct Connection to the Modem is a Public Address.

ok how about this then? purely hypothetical, so it'll be a stupid example. itseasier to go thru ICS than this.
but i'm just trying to get the theory down.

cable modem -> NIC1 of PC1 (which has 3 NIC's) // NIC2 & NIC3 bridged (in PC1) -> NIC in PC2
now will they both be able to get online?
what kind of IP will NIC in PC2 be getting?
even better, what IP address will each NIC be getting?

PC1:
NIC1 = public IP from ISP
NIC2 = 192.?
NIC3 = 192.?

PC2:
NIC = 192.?

 

[rw120555]

Originally posted by: Lifer some examples they gave were 2 PNA PC's to connect to 2 ethernet PC's, but how likely is that?

Well, I used to do it before I got more wiring in my house But even then, I eventually decided it was better to buy an hpna/ethernet bridge like the Netgear PE102 -- otherwise I had to rely on an always on PC to keep my network working.

I think you need a router or ICS to make your setup work. If you did have a router or ICS, then I think your proposed setups would basically be an infinitely more complicated and more trouble-prone alternative to using a switch

When would you use XP's network bridge? Well, the mixed node network is one example, e.g. you've got some combo of hpna/powerline/ethernet. Have one machine with, say, hpna and ethernet, and all your computers can be part of one big happy network. Also, you could have something like a PC with a wireless card and a NIC bridged together, and an Xbox is plugged into the NIC (thus connecting the XBOX to the wireless network). Now, again, I'd rather have standalone devices for such purposes, e.g. a PE102 for homepna, a Wet 11 for wireless -- but if you happen to have the right equipment already, then XP bridging may be an economical alternative, especially if, say, it is something you only want to do on a short term basis.