What is Network Bridge, and how do I enable or disable it?
Network Bridge offers increased flexibility by allowing a mixture of media types and by automating the difficult configurations that are normally associated with mixed media networks. It creates a software connection to link different types of network adapters together, joining the network connections and creating a single subnet for the entire network. Network Bridge is useful on home networks with two physical network media, like Ethernet and 802.11b wireless. A full discussion of bridging and routing is beyond the scope of this document. Further research may be needed for a full understanding of the subject. Note: Adding a bridge to an existing domain or corporate network may cause unforeseen consequences. A network administrator or engineer should be consulted prior to implementing a network bridge. It is not recommended to bridge between a local network and the Internet. ICS should be used instead. The steps for Microsoft® Windows® XP Home and Windows XP Professional are the same.
