Comparing Bridges to Switches

Comparing Bridges to Switches
The following list describes the differences between bridges and switches. Table 15.1 provides
an overview of that comparison.

Bridges are software based because the program runs in RAM. Switches are hardware
based because they use ASIC chips to help make filtering decisions.
Layer 2 LAN Switching
483

Bridges can have only one spanning tree instance per bridge. Switches can have many.
(Spanning tree is covered later in this chapter.)

Bridges can have up to only 16 ports. A switch can have hundreds.
You probably won’t go out and buy a bridge, but it’s important to understand how bridges
are designed and maintained because layer 2 switches function in a similar fashion.