Add a connection to or remove a connection from Network Bridge

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To add a connection to or remove a connection from Network Bridge

  1. Open Network Connections.

  2. Under Network Bridge, right-click Network Bridge, and then click Properties.

  3. On the General tab, under Adapters, do one of the following.

    • To add a connection to Network Bridge, select the check box next to each adapter you want to add to the bridge, and then click OK.

    • To remove a connection from Network Bridge, clear the check box next to each adapter you want to remove from the bridge, and then click OK.

Caution

  • If Internet Connection Firewall (ICF), Windows Firewall, 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, Windows Firewall, or ICS are enabled, this risk is mitigated.

Notes

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure.

  • To open Network Connections, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network Connections.

  • If you remove network adapters from Network Bridge and less than two adapters remain, Network Bridge does not perform its intended function but continues to use system resources.

  • You must set up Network Bridge before you can add connections to it. For more information, see Related Topics.

  • Connections that run ICF, Windows Firewall, or adapters that provide shared Internet connections cannot be a part of Network Bridge and do not appear under Adapters. Similarly, the Add to Bridge menu command is available only for adapters that you can add as connections to Network Bridge.

  • 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 can also add a connection to or remove a connection from Network Bridge by opening Network Connections, right-clicking the adapter that you want to add, and then clicking Add to Bridge.

  • Windows Firewall is not included in the original release of the Windows Server 2003 operating systems.

  • Internet Connection Sharing and Network Bridge are not included in Windows Server 2003, Web Edition; Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition; and the Itanium-based versions of the original release of the Windows Server 2003 operating systems.

  • Internet Connection Firewall is included only in the original releases of Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, and Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition.

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.

See Also

Concepts

Set up Network Bridge
Enable or disable Network Bridge
Remove Network Bridge
Home and small office networking features
Network Bridge