User guide

Overview
Chapter 7: Using Bridges 259
Chapter 7
This chapter describes how to connect multiple network segments at the data-link layer,
using a bridge.
This chapter includes the following topics:
Overview .................................................................................................. 259
Workflow.................................................................................................. 265
Adding and Editing Bridges ..................................................................... 266
Adding Internal Networks to Bridges ....................................................... 270
Adding Internet Connections to Bridges .................................................. 274
Deleting Bridges ....................................................................................... 278
Overview
The Safe@Office appliance enables you to connect multiple network segments at the data-
link layer, by configuring a bridge. Bridges offer the following advantages:
• Easy network segmentation
Bridges can be used to compartmentalize an existing network into several security
zones, without changing the IP addressing scheme or the routers' configuration.
Ordinarily, if you need to deploy a firewall within an internal network, you can divide
the existing subnet into two networks and configure a new routing scheme. However,
in some deployments, the amount of network reconfiguration required prohibits such a
solution. Adding a bridge not only allows you to segment your network quickly and
easily, but it allows you to choose whether to enable the firewall between network
segments.
Using Bridges