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Bridging is a technique used by the NetScaler appliance for forwarding packets between network interfaces in the VLANs configured on it. Layer 2 traffic is bridged within a port-based VLAN. By observing the movement of the bridged packets over time, administrators can understand the load on the appliance, and be proactively alerted to issues such as bridge loops and packet collisions. The CtxNsBridgeTest enables administrators to do just that.

Measurement	Description	Measurement Unit	Interpretation
Bridged_mbits	Indicates the number of Mbits forwarded to the NetScaler interfaces during the last measurement period	Number	This is a good indicator of the load on the network interfaces.
Bridged_packets	Indicates the number of packets forwarded to the NetScaler interfaces during the last measurement period.	Number
Collisions	Indicates the number of table collisions that occurred in the bridge during the last measurement period.	Number	When two or more interfaces attempt to transmit a packet over the bridge at the same time, a collision occurs. Packet collisions can result in the loss of packet integrity or can impede the performance of the NetScaler appliance. Ideally therefore, the value of this measure should be 0.
Loops	Indicates the number of loops i.e., the movement of registered MACs that occurred in the bridge during the last measurement period.	Number	A loop occurs when there is more than one Layer 2 path between two interfaces in a VLAN. Typically, when a link aggregate channel configured on a NetScaler appliance is removed, the network interfaces bound to it induce network looks. Looping creates broadcast radiation - i.e., the accumulation of broadcast and multicast traffic on an appliance. Extreme amounts of broadcast traffic constitute a broadcast storm. A broadcast storm can consume sufficient resources so as to render the appliance unable to transport normal traffic. Ideally therefore, the value of this measure should be 0.
Interface_muted	Indicates the number of times the interfaces were muted during the last meassurement period.	Number	An interface is said to be muted if it stops transmitting and receiving packets. This could be owing to dropped packets or because there were too many MAC moves on that interface or due to a suspected configuration issue.