Bridge Router

A Bridge Router or brouter [ [http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=brouter&i=38965,00.asp Definition of: brouter - See bridge router] at PC Magazine] is a network device that works as a bridge and as a router. The brouter routes packets for known protocols and simply forwards all other packets as a bridge would. [ [http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=bridge+router&i=38924,00.asp Definition of: bridge router] at PC Magazine ]

Brouters operate at both the layer for routable protocols and at the data link layer for non-routable protocols. As networks continue to become more complex, a mix of routable and non-routable protocols has led to the need for the combined features of bridges and routers. Brouters handle both routable and non-routable features by acting as routers for routable protocols and bridges for non-routable protocols. Bridged protocols might propagate throughout the network, but techniques such as filtering and learning might be used to reduce potential congestion.

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