[Soekris] OpenBSD pf transparent bridge - hardware tricks

[Trevor Talbot]

On Feb 25, 2007, at 6:58 AM, Art Arica3D wrote:

Okay, first of all, bridging involves the OS: it's a software function. 
  There is no way to make a lan1641 act as an independent hardware 
switch.  (It would need its own switch processor onboard; such cards 
exist, but this isn't one of them.)

Second, even if we pretend it is an independent hardware switch...

> [ lan1641, left, 4 ports ]     [ net4801, right, 3 ports ]
>    p6   p5   p4   p3              p2     p1   p0
>
>    **   !!   $$                   $$     !!   @@
>    **   !!   $$$ crossover data $$$$     !!   @@
>    **   !!                               !!   @@@ to server @@
>    **   !!!!!! crossover cable admin !!!!!!
>    **
>    ***** incoming feed from ISP ******************************

...I don't understand the logical purpose of this setup.  What is it 
you're trying to do, as a high level overview?  There's gotta be a more 
efficient way to do it :)