Setting Up a Permanent Network Bridge Between Two PCs on Windows 11

Setting up a Permanent Network Bridge between Two PCs in Windows 11

In this article, we will discuss how to set up a permanent network bridge between two PCs in Windows 11. A network bridge enables data communication between two PCs using a single network interface, which is useful for scenarios where you want to connect two PCs directly without using a router or a switch.

What is a Network Bridge?

A network bridge is a device that connects two or more network segments or devices together, creating a single logical network. In the context of Windows, a network bridge can be set up to connect multiple network adapters, such as an Ethernet adapter and a Wi-Fi adapter, allowing them to communicate with each other and with other devices on the network.

Setting up a Network Bridge between Two PCs using Ethernet Adapters

To set up a network bridge between two PCs using Ethernet adapters in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows key and clicking on the Settings icon.

2. Click on the Network & Internet category.

3. Click on the Status category.

4. Scroll down and click on the Network and Sharing Center link.

5. Click on the Change adapter settings link on the left side of the window.

6. Press the Ctrl key and select both Ethernet adapters that you want to bridge. Right-click on the selected adapters and choose the Bridge Connections option from the context menu.

7. Wait for Windows to create the network bridge. Once the bridge is created, it will be listed in the Network Connections window.

Verifying the Network Bridge

To verify that the network bridge is working correctly, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key and type cmd in the search bar. Click on the Command Prompt app.

2. Type ipconfig /all and press Enter. This command lists all the network interfaces and their IP configurations on the PC.

3. Find the network bridge interface in the list. It should have a unique name starting with "Microsoft Network Bridge Virtual Adapter". Note down its IP address.

4. On PC 2, open the Command Prompt and type ping network\_bridge\_ip\_address, where network\_bridge\_ip\_address is the IP address of the network bridge on PC 1. You should see replies from PC 1, indicating that the network bridge is working correctly.

Configuring the Network Bridge for Permanent Use

To ensure that the network bridge is set up permanently, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key and type device manager in the search bar. Click on the Device Manager app.

2. Expand the Network Adapters category.

3. Find the Ethernet adapters that you bridged and right-click on them. Choose the Properties option from the context menu.

4. Click on the Power Management tab.

5. Uncheck the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power checkbox. Click OK to save the changes.

6. Repeat the above steps for both Ethernet adapters.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Network Bridges

Advantages:

• Allows two or more network segments to communicate with each other.

• Simplifies network configuration by allowing multiple network interfaces to be managed as a single interface.

• Improves network performance and reduces latency by reducing the number of network hops.

Disadvantages:

• Adds complexity to the network setup.

• Can create a single point of failure if the network bridge device fails.

• May not be suitable for large networks or networks with complex topologies.

In this article, we discussed how to set up a permanent network bridge between two PCs using Ethernet adapters in Windows 11. We covered the key concepts related to network bridges and provided detailed instructions for setting up, verifying, and configuring the network bridge. We also discussed the advantages and disadvantages of network bridges.

References

• Book: O'Reilly, "Windows Server 2019 Networking Guide"

• Article: Microsoft, "Create a network bridge" (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-a-network-bridge-6daa5093-f243-4de2-abe5-6ea1aa8cd2b7)

• Online Resource: Cisco, "What is a Bridge?" (https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/switches/catalyst-6000-series-switches/17032-understanding-bridging.html)