Switches and Bridges CCNA Question

nmilot

I've taken dozens of different online exams over the past month from a handful of different sites. I'm seeing some discrepencies in some questions. One that I just noticed concerns switches and bridges. The question is:

What is typically true of switches and bridges?

One of the options I've seen a number of times is: "Switches typically have a higher number of ports than bridges."

Now I've seen some sites mark this as a correct option, and some mark it wrong. Which way is it?

Webmaster

If you look at the purpose of a switch and a bridge, the answer to your question is very obvious. A bridge is used to connect networks, and a switch is basically an advanced combination of a bridge and a hub and is used to connect networks and hosts, like a hub. Hence, the latter has more ports i.e. 12, 24 or more even, and a bridge has 2 a the minimum.

Check out the following TechNotes for more information:
www.techexams.net/technotes/networkplus/networkcomponents.shtml

fondue

What is typically true of switches and bridges?
"Switches typically have a higher number of ports than bridges."

Depending on the others answers I would have to agree, since a switch acts as a multiport bridge. I'm guessing other answers were things to differentiate switches, bridges, hubs and repeaters. Just understand the differances and uses of each device and you will be fine.

nmilot

Thanks for the response. I've seen that question come up a number of times in my transcender, and the "having more ports" selection has always been an answer. It wasn't until I saw it somewhere else as a wrong answer that I started to doubt myself.

thanks