A router has two functions; on the one hand, it processes the input signal to connect to the Internet and, on the other hand, it distributes that connection among several devices. However, it is possible to modify its functions so that it acts only as a network signal processor, something known as Bridge Mode or network bridge .
Index( )
- How do I put my router in bridge mode?
- How to use my router as a network bridge
- What is the difference between bridge or router mode?
How do I put my router in bridge mode?
It should be noted that the configuration of a router in Bridge mode may vary depending on the model and brand of the device. In some cases it is as simple as checking the Bridge or Bridging box in the router settings and restarting it, but in others you will have to follow a longer process to activate it manually.
First of all, you need to access the router settings . It is best to do it from a computer with a LAN connection. To access the configuration page you must enter the IP address of the router as if it were a URL in the browser bar, which would be 192.168.1.1. Login using the username and password you have set up.
Among the available menus you can find various settings, some of which you will need to change to avoid network conflicts when using Bridge mode. To begin with, identify the IP section and assign the router a different address than the default one that does not match the other connected devices.
Next, you must deactivate the DHCP server on the PC , which is in charge of determining the IP address of each connected device, since this task will be carried out by the main router. It is also necessary to disable the DNS server for the router to function as a bridge.
Disable the firewall and other access controls on the network bridge . Also, delete the “Port Forwarding” entries to finish. At the end, you must restart the router so that the changes made are applied and you can now use it as a network bridge after connecting it to the Internet input cable and putting an output connection to the main router.
How to use my router as a network bridge
Routers are usually not as powerful as they should be, which hampers the connection of our devices. To solve this defect, the neutral router comes into play, which is a more capable router that replaces the original, allowing the previous router to be configured in Bridge mode or network bridge, which simply fulfills the function of decrypting the signal .
In simpler words, you take a higher capacity router and let it be the signal distributor in your house; while the less powerful router is placed as a modem , that is, as the one in charge of processing the signal that arrives at your house and deciphering it so that there is an Internet connection.
By leaving the most complex connection tasks in charge of the neutral router, you will be able to have access to technologies that older routers do not usually have (for example, dual band WiFi) and thus optimize the speed of your connection .
What is the difference between bridge or router mode?
The main contrast lies in how the device sees the networks it connects to . While in the Bridge or bridge it treats two different networks as if it were one, the router considers them different entities. In other words, bridge mode only transfers data and the router performs a more complex network management task.
In essence, the Bridge mode turns the router into a repeater that sends data from one point to another , that is, a simple operation that communicates two networks as if they were the same network using the criteria of a filter table. Although some bridges may have multiple ports and thus connect a larger number of networks, their basic function remains the same.
The router works smarter by deciding for itself the redirection of data packets going in and out between connected clients. For its functions, it uses a routing table that is used to decide where the information transmitted through different network interfaces, whether LAN or WAN, goes.
