Definition of Terms

Before you begin configuring the Novell^® Internet Access Server 4.1 routing software, you should know the following terms:

• AppleTalk is the Apple Computer suite of protocols that enables the hardware and software on an AppleTalk internetwork to interact and to exchange data.
• An AppleTalk network is a collection of connected, individually controlled computers, printers, and other devices, together with the hardware and AppleTalk software used to link them. All devices on the same network have addresses within the range assigned for the network.
• An AppleTalk internetwork is a group of AppleTalk networks connected by one or more AppleTalk routers. An internetwork allows all its network users to share information and network devices.
• An AppleTalk node is an addressable entity on a network. This term sometimes refers to a device itself. Some examples of nodes are Macintosh* computers, printers, and file servers.
• An AppleTalk packet is a group of bits transmitted as a unit of information. These bits include data and control elements. The control elements include the addresses of the packet's source and destination and, in some cases, error-detection information.
• The AppleTalk stack is the suite of AppleTalk protocols used to support AppleTalk applications such as file and print servers.
• An AppleTalk router connects AppleTalk networks into an internetwork so that all the nodes on each network can access services and nodes on any connected network. It receives and forwards AppleTalk packets on the networks to which it is directly connected.
• An AppleTalk zone is a logical grouping of services, such as print queues, file servers, and calendar systems. By associating a zone with certain devices, you enable Macintosh users to locate the services they need more easily. For example, a Macintosh user who needs to locate a printer used for administrative purposes might look in the Administration zone.
• AppleTalk Phase 2 is the latest version of the AppleTalk protocols. Apple introduced AppleTalk Phase 2 in 1989 to provide support for AppleTalk networks with thousands of nodes, multiple AppleTalk zones on a network, and token ring networks. Its efficient routing techniques improve performance and use less bandwidth.
• An extended AppleTalk network is an AppleTalk network that supports Phase 2 extensions such as zones lists and network ranges. (An extended AppleTalk network is also referred to as simply an extended network.)
• A nonexistent AppleTalk network is an AppleTalk network that does not support Phase 2 extensions such as zones lists and network ranges. (A nonextended AppleTalk network is also referred to as simply a nonextended network.)
• A network visible entity (NVE) is any entity that is accessible on an AppleTalk network system through the Datagram Delivery Protocol (DDP).
• A seed router is a router on the network that has the network number range built into its port descriptor. Each network must have at least one seed router. There can be multiple seed routers on a network; however, they all must use the same network number range. All of the non-seed routers on a network learn the correct network number range from the seed routers.