Configuration Tips

This section lists recommendations for configuring NetWare
Link/Frame Relay.

• When configuring source route bridging over a WAN, make sure you enable and configure the route end station on all WAN ports that allow clients to access the NetWare file server. If the node is a dedicated router, the route end station is not required.
• To route IPX over a WAN, you must always bind IPX to a WAN board.
• When routing AppleTalk or IPX over frame relay, do not specify a WAN call destination under Bindings. All AppleTalk, IPX, and IP WAN connections over frame relay are incoming calls that are originated by the frame relay switch. These incoming calls connect automatically and require no manual intervention. You cannot initiate an outgoing call for AppleTalk, IPX, or IP over frame relay.
• Make sure User Data Size is set to the same value on both sides of the link.
• If a frame relay PVC does not come up, verify that the link management protocol (Local Management Interface [LMI] or Annex D) set in the WAN interface configuration is the same as the protocol used by the frame relay switch, or verify that the switch is configured for autodetect.
• Either the LMI or ANNEX-D polling timer should always be set to a value less than the network timer value set for the switch.
• You can define only one WAN call destination for all protocols going to the same destination. Each protocol can use the same WAN call destination name when it is bound to the WAN interface.
• You do not need to configure WAN call destinations when routing IPX, AppleTalk, and (in most situations) IP. However, you must configure a WAN call destination in the following circumstances:
  • You are routing IP and the router at the other end of the connection does not support Inverse ARP (for example, when connecting to Cisco Systems* and IBM 6611 routers).
  • You are binding the source route bridge software to the frame relay interface.

• If your DCE device (DSU/CSU, modem, multiplexer, and so on) has both single and dual clocking configuration options, make sure you configure your DCE to provide both transmit and receive clocks when a Synchronous/+ or NW2000 board is used.
• Verify that the following configuration parameter settings match the settings used by the frame relay switch and your ISP:
  • User data size should be equal to or less than the size used by the frame relay switch. Also, ensure that the user data size is equal to or less than the physical receive packet size.
  • Line management protocol (ANNEX-D, LMI) should match the protocol used by your ISP.
  • Data encoding of NRZ or NRZI should be set to match your ISP
  • Status polling timer value should be equal to or slightly less than the maximum value the switch supports. To change this value, load NIASCFG and select Configure NIAS > Protocols and Routing > Network Interfaces > select a specific frame relay interface > Expert Configuration > Parameter Group Configuration > Status Polling Timer option).