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Netsh Commands for Network Bridge

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008

For adapters that are part of the Network Bridge, you can use commands in the netsh bridge context to enable or disable Layer 3 compatibility mode and show configuration information for these adapters.

Warning

Use caution when enabling the Network Bridge component in Windows®. It causes a computer attached to two or more networks to rebroadcast all traffic from each network to the others that are part of the bridge. This can be a significant security risk if you enable the bridge on a computer that contains a network adapter attached to your private LAN and another adapter that is connected to the Internet.

You can run these commands from the command prompt on a computer running Microsoft® Windows Vista® or Windows Server® 2008 from the netsh bridge context. To successfully run these commands at the command prompt on a computer running Windows Server 2008, you must type netsh bridge before typing the commands and parameters as they appear in this topic.

For more information about netsh, see Netsh Overview and Enter a Netsh Context.

Netsh commands for Network Bridge

To view the command syntax, click a command:

  • show adapter

  • set adapter

For information on how to interpret netsh command syntax, see Formatting Legend.

show adapter

This command lists all of the adapters that are part of Network Bridge and provides adapter ID numbers, friendly names, and the state of the Layer 3 compatibility mode that corresponds to each adapter.

Syntax

Show adapter [[id=]AdapterID]

Parameters

  • id=
    Optional. Specifies the information to display for a specific adapter.

Remarks

There are no additional remarks for this command.

Example commands

  • show adapter

  • show adapter id=”Local Area Connection”

set adapter

This command modifies the configuration of a specified adapter that is part of Network Bridge by setting the state of the adapter to either enable or disable network layer (Layer 3) compatibility mode.

Syntax

**set adapter [id=]**AdapterID [forcecompatmode=]{enable | disable}

Parameters

  • id
    Required. Specifies which adapter that is part of Network Bridge to configure.
  • forcecompatmode
    Required. Specifies whether Layer 3 mode compatibility is enabled or disabled for the specified adapter.

Remarks

This command should be run only if an enabled Network Bridge does not forward network traffic to all network segments. This condition can exist if one or more network adapters (typically wireless) included in the bridge do not support promiscuous mode.

For more information about determining adapter ID values, see show adapter.

The install and uninstall commands are not supported in the netshbridge context. Network Bridge can be set up or removed only through Network Connections.

Example command

  • set adapter id=”Local Area Connection 2” forcecompatmode=enable