Compatible Systems 5.4 Manuale Utente

Bridge Logical Diagram

v Note:  If you need more information about bridging, see “Bridging 101” 
in the Appendices to this manual.

Bridging operates on physical network addresses (such as Ethernet 
addresses), rather than logical addresses (such as AppleTalk Phase 2 
addresses). From the standpoint of AppleTalk networking, router interfaces 
which are set to bridge AppleTalk Phase 2 between themselves appear as a 
single logical entity.

Thus, a router’s “AppleTalk Phase 2 Bridge Group” is made up of all of the 
physical network interfaces in a router which have been set to bridge Apple-
Talk Phase 2. This setting can be found in the AppleTalk configuration dialog 
box for each individual physical interface. For example, see the AppleTalk 
Phase 2 Routing/Bridging/Off radio buttons in the AppleTalk Routing: 
Ethernet Configuration Dialog Box.

Logically, the AppleTalk Phase 2 Bridge Group is treated by the router as an 
interface (Bridge 0). The settings in the AppleTalk Routing: Bridge 0 Config-
uration Dialog Box (discussed below) determine the AppleTalk Phase 2 
parameters for all of the physical network interfaces which make up the 

Port 0 

Port 1 

Port 2 

Port 3 

AppleTalk Bridge Group 

DECnet  Bridge Group 

Multiport Router/Switch