How Bridges are Handled in ARP – Understanding IPv4, IP, and MAC Address

arpipipv4mac address

assume want to send a packet from H1 to H3 and we have a network like this:

**H1**
A:a
|
|
N
**B1** E --- E:e **R1** F:f--- C:c**H3**
S
|
|
B:b
**H2**

How will ARP table look for these nodes in the network ?
i know how ARP works and how the tables are filled but not sure how to think when there is bridges?

For example if we had a network like this:

H1 A:a — C:c R1 D:d — B:b H2

then then the tables would look like this:

H1 table => ip:C mac:c

R1 table => ip:A mac:a and ip:B mac:b

H2 table => ip:D mac:d

Best Answer

A transparent bridge, e.g. ethernet switch, has no effect on ARP. A translating bridge, e.g. ethernet/token ring bridge, may change a MAC address between canonical and non-canonical or have some other effect, based on what it is bridging.

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