Introduction to Data Communications
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• Self learning: requires no manual configuration, considered plug and work.
• Independent of higher level protocols (TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, Netbeui, etc..)

Disadvantages of Transparent Bridges

- Can only work with 1 path between segments: Loops are not allowed. A loop would confuse the bridge as to which side of the bridge a node was really on: local or remote?

Transparent Bridges are not acceptable for use on MANs or WANs, as many paths can be taken to reach a destination. In the above example, it is simple to determine that a loop occurs but in a large corporate network with several hundred bridges, it may be next to impossible to determine. As such, Bridges are most commonly used in LAN to LAN connectivity and not in MANs or WANs.

Introduction to Data Communications
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