To set up Network Bridge

1. Open Network Connections.
2. Under LAN or High-Speed Internet, hold down the CTRL key, and then click each of the adapters that you want to include in the bridge.
3. Right-click one of the connections that you have selected, and then click Bridge Connections.

Caution

• If Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) or Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) are not enabled on your network, do not set up Network Bridge between the public Internet connection and the private network connection. Setting up Network Bridge between the public Internet connection and the private network connection creates an unprotected link between your network and the Internet, leaving your network vulnerable to external attacks. When ICF or ICS are enabled, this risk is mitigated.

Notes

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• Connections that run ICF or adapters that provide shared Internet connections cannot be a part of the Network Bridge and do not appear under LAN or High-Speed Internet. Similarly, the Bridge Connections menu command is available only for adapters that you can add as connections to Network Bridge.
• You must select at least two private network connections in order for Bridge Connections to create a bridge.
• You can create only one Network Bridge on a computer, but the bridge can accommodate numerous network connections.
• Network adapters that previously appeared under LAN or High-Speed Internet, appear under Network Bridge when you add them as connections to the bridge. Network adapters that provide Internet connectivity, such as DSL and cable modems, cannot be bridged and always appear under LAN or High-Speed Internet.
• Only Ethernet, IEEE-1394 adapters, or Ethernet-compatible adapters, such as wireless and Home Phoneline Network adapters, can be a part of Network Bridge.
• Network Bridge with a wireless or IEEE-1394 connection supports traffic using Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) only.
• You cannot create Network Bridge on a computer running Windows 2000 or earlier versions of Windows.
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