14 configuring packet bridging, Introduction to lucent bridging, Chapter 14 – Lucent Technologies 6000 User Manual
Page 521: Configuring packet bridging -1, Introduction to lucent bridging -1, Chapter 14: configuring packet bridging -1, Chapter 14, “configuring packet bridging, Ee chapter 14, “configuring packet bridging.”), Configuring packet bridging

MAX 6000/3000 Network Configuration Guide
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Configuring Packet Bridging
If routing protocols are not supported on your MAX unit, you can establish bridged 
connections to provide connectivity between networks. Unless you need to use bridging, 
however, you should leave it disabled (the default) to enhance routing performance. A MAX 
unit supports transparent bridging with a dynamically created bridge table, which also 
incorporates user-defined entries. You must configure the Answer profile to accept bridged 
connections, and configure each bridged connection in a Connection or Names/Passwords 
profile.
Introduction to Lucent bridging
A bridge is a hardware device that transmits packets between networks. A bridge forwards 
packets from one network to another, and discards packets destined for hosts on the sending 
network. Operating at the Data Link layer, a bridge makes multiple networks look like a single 
network to higher-level protocols and software.
Bridging, the method of moving packets between networks, is useful primarily to provide 
connectivity for protocols other than IP, IPX, and AppleTalk, although it can also be used for 
joining segments of an IP, IPX, or AppleTalk network. Because a bridging connection 
forwards packets at the hardware-address level (link layer), it does not distinguish between 
protocol types, and it requires no protocol-specific network configuration.
The most common uses of bridging in the MAX unit are to:
•
Provide nonrouted protocol connectivity with another site.
•
Link two sites so that their nodes appear to be on the same LAN.
•
Support protocols, such as BOOTP, that depend on broadcasts to function.
