Summary

Short summary, RouterOS implementation of an IEEE 802.1BR standard, description of a Controller Bridge and Port Extender, description of a cascade, control (and upstream), extended ports (image), table of supported devices and features.

Controller Bridge (CB) and Port Extender (PE) is an IEEE 802.1BR standard implementation in RouterOS for CRS3xx series switches. It allows virtually extending the CB ports with a PE device and manage these extended interfaces from a single controlling device. Such configuration provides a simplified network topology, increased port density and manageability. A Controller Bridge and Port Extender topology can be seen below.

Image Added

The Controller Bridge establishes communication with the Port Extender through a cascade port. Similarly, the Port Extender will communicate with the Controller Bridge only through an upstream port. On a PE device, there can be multiple control ports configured, but only one port (closest to the CB) will act as an upstream port. Cascade and upstream ports are used to transmit and receive control and network traffic. Extended ports are interfaces that are controlled by the CB device and they are typically connected to the end hosts. Extended ports only transmit and receive network traffic.

See supported features for each switch model below.

Quick setup (optional)

Short quick-setup with configuration (image)

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