Home Networking Issue: Bridged Network

[alitayyab]

So this might be a totally noob issue/ question, but i really havent been able to find an answer. I have very little experience in networking except for wiring cables to and from switches to computers, cameras, consoles etc.

The setup: See my amazing Picasso
PC 1: Intel 12400 + Asus z690 with intel 2.5G NIC onboard + Intel GB NIC pcie
PC 2: Intel 12700k + GB z690 with realtek 2.5 NIC onboard + Realtek GB NIC pcie

Both are on Win 11

Unbridged IP4 setup
1G Setup:
IP 192.168.100.x
GW: 192.168.100.1

2G Setup
IP 55.55.55.x


2.5G connected directly between 2 computers
1G connected via router

What I Want: Being able to either
a) use a bridged network to transfer files between PCs 1 & 2
b) use 2.5G network rather than 1G to transfer files between PCs 1 & 2

Issue: If I bridge the 1G and 2.5G connections (on both computers) i can connect to internet fine on both machines. I can ping fine as well. HOWEVER i cannot see shared network drive on PC 2 from PC 1. . Both have the same network sharing settings (private, password sharing = off.)

Unbridged everything runs okay. I can see the network drive on PC2 from PC1.

Why Bridge? I transfer lots of file between 2 PCs. For whatever reason the transferring files between two computers always uses 1G network even though the interface metric for 1G is 100 and 2.5G is 1. I have to disable 1G network to force transfers via 2.5G. Bridging, hopefully would allow be to use the entire BW for transfer between the 2 computers


I also tried adding a permanent static route using this:
https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/adding-a-tcpip-route-to-the-windows-routing-table/

But that did not help me in my endeavor to use 2.5G for transfer between machines in unbridged scenario.

I hope my question comes across clearly.

Thanks in advance

 

[metroidfox]

I'm not sure I understand the logic of bridging the 1G, and 2.5G networks. What are you trying to achieve by bridging them?


Your network has two ways to the same machine. Spanning tree should only allow off one of those links to work. So unless you write your own networking protocol, there isn't a neat way around this.


A better alternative is to replace your switch with a 2.5G one, and forget your 1G links. Though to be honest, I don't know if you'd really notice the difference between the two.

 

[alitayyab]

I'm not sure I understand the logic of bridging the 1G, and 2.5G networks. What are you trying to achieve by bridging them?

Improve transfer speeds between the 2 computers;
If I leave the connections unbridged, the transfer takes over the 1G connection. This despite the interface metric for 1G connection is 100, while that of 2.5G connection is 2. I have to disable the 1G connection to make use of the 2.5G connection. I have static routes setup as well (between the two machines)

Yeah, the simplest solution would be to get a 2.5G switch. But I wanted to make sure that I wasn't doing anything wrong that wasn't making this work.

 

[andino]

Dude, get a 2.5 gigabit switch.

I'm using a 10gb switch currently for my servers and my main computer. I transfer a lot of files between the three computers.

The rest are on a 2.5gb switch.

 

[alitayyab]

Dude, get a 2.5 gigabit switch.

I'm using a 10gb switch currently for my servers and my main computer. I transfer a lot of files between the three computers.

The rest are on a 2.5gb switch.

Yup, that is the solution. Only wanted to ensure I wasn't doing anything wrong before spending $$$ for nothing. The price of 2.5G switch here is about 6x of 1G switch. Probably going to get one via AliExpress

 

[metroidfox]

Improve transfer speeds between the 2 computers;
If I leave the connections unbridged, the transfer takes over the 1G connection. This despite the interface metric for 1G connection is 100, while that of 2.5G connection is 2. I have to disable the 1G connection to make use of the 2.5G connection. I have static routes setup as well (between the two machines)

Yeah, the simplest solution would be to get a 2.5G switch. But I wanted to make sure that I wasn't doing anything wrong that wasn't making this work.

A bridge won't change this behaviour, which is why I'm confused.


A bridge effectively joins the network on your 1G link with the one on your 2G link. Except the two nodes are already connected via both networks.