5.5 Conclusion

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Bridges are equally useful for partitioning sprawling LANs into discrete subnetworks that are easier to control and manage or extending the geographical reach of LANs over point-to-point wired or wireless connections. Through the use of bridges, similar devices, protocols, and transmission media can be grouped together into communities of interest. Such partitioning can yield many advantages, such as eliminating congestion and improving the response time of the entire network. Bridges can also make adding, moving, and changing devices on the network much easier because only the effect on the subnetwork need be considered. Finally, partitioning makes problems easier to diagnose and isolate, while enhancing overall security.

Routers fulfill a vital role in implementing complex mesh networks such as the Internet and private intranets using Layer 3 protocols, usually IP. They also have become an economical means of tying branch offices into the enterprise network and providing PCs tied together on a home network with shared access to broadband Internet services such as cable and DSL, as well as supporting branch offices and telecommuters with VPNs. Like other interconnection devices, routers are manageable via SNMP, as well as the proprietary management systems of vendors. Just as bridging and routing functions have been integrated into a single device, routing and switching functions have been combined in the same way, and even add firewall, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and NAT capabilities.

Gateways are available as software or may be dedicated hardware systems equipped with appropriate software to make the translations between different applications, networked devices, or different types of networks. Gateways can even be used to reconcile the differences between network management systems or operations support systems (OSSs), enabling them to interoperate with the systems of other vendors.



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LANs to WANs(c) The Complete Management Guide
LANs to WANs: The Complete Management Guide
ISBN: 1580535720
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 184

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