Router in "bridge mode".

[Hawick]

I can set my router to bridge mode. Is there any security risks by doing so? Any other drawbacks?

[Mbowen]

Generally there isn't a real drawback to that as long as the device that it's handing off to has decent performance/hardware. We use bridge mode in retail to hand off our routing function from the p.o.s modems that our ISP gives us to our nice Cisco Meraki firewall/routers.

[Semper]

It's a bit more complex than this, but setting a secondary router to bridge mode functionally turns it into a DHCP server. Firewall and traffic control should still happen on the router closest to the external line.

[NielsKarsten]

Bridge mode is used if you dont want your router doing any routing. You would most likely use it if you had your own router after the ISP router. Unless you have another router you want to use there is no reason to switch your router into bridge mode

[Hawick]

Just now, Mbowen said:

Generally there isn't a real drawback to that as long as the device that it's handing off to has decent performance/hardware. We use bridge mode in retail to hand off our routing function from the p.o.s modems that our ISP gives us to our nice Cisco Meraki firewall/routers.

But I think bridge mode opens all ports so it's less secure I guess..?

[Mbowen]

Just now, Hawick said:

But I think bridge mode opens all ports so it's less secure I guess..?

What? No, not at all. All it does is make the device hand off all it's functions to another router. Usually you see this with router/modem combos where you need to have the modem do de-modulate the signal to a usable ethernet signal for the real router you want to use. That router should still have the same, if not better, than the stock-ish router/modem you were putting in bridge mode. 

[homeap5]

21 minutes ago, Hawick said:

But I think bridge mode opens all ports so it's less secure I guess..?

Yes and no. Its not the right question - bridge mode is like you don't want to use router at all - in simplified terms. It's using when you want to pass the signal through your router without any change and it's used when you want to use different router to made internal network (so your bridged your first router that now only "decode" internet signal and that's all - to connect computers you need separate device - second router). Do you have second router? No? Then do not change router mode to "bridge".

[dalekphalm]

As others have mentioned, putting a router into "Bridge Mode" will disable NAT (Network Address Translation), and typically any other routing functions (Often including DHCP).

 

It basically turns the router into a Switch with a built-in Wireless Access Point.

 

You typically use bridge mode on a router when you just need to extend WIFI coverage, or you need more LAN ports and don't want to buy a switch because you've got a spare router on hand.

[SupaKomputa]

48 minutes ago, Hawick said:

But I think bridge mode opens all ports so it's less secure I guess..?

No, the slave router cannot open the already closed ports by the main router.

So you should run security on the main and it would be just fine.

[Hawick]

17 minutes ago, dalekphalm said:

As others have mentioned, putting a router into "Bridge Mode" will disable NAT (Network Address Translation), and typically any other routing functions (Often including DHCP).

 

It basically turns the router into a Switch with a built-in Wireless Access Point.

 

You typically use bridge mode on a router when you just need to extend WIFI coverage, or you need more LAN ports and don't want to buy a switch because you've got a spare router on hand.

My WIFI does not work when I switch to bridge mode, any ideas? Only ethernet works.

[dalekphalm]

1 minute ago, Hawick said:

My WIFI does not work when I switch to bridge mode, any ideas? Only ethernet works.

My first question would be to ask you to list all of your network equipment, what mode each is in (if there are multiple modes), and how they are connected to each other.

[Hawick]

13 minutes ago, dalekphalm said:

My first question would be to ask you to list all of your network equipment, what mode each is in (if there are multiple modes), and how they are connected to each other.

I only have a router

[Crunchy Dragon]

-Moved to Networking-

[homeap5]

35 minutes ago, Hawick said:

I only have a router

So do not switch to bridge mode and that's all.