Source route end stations are used when Novell Internet Access Server 4.1 is also used as a server to which source route clients are attached and the virtual ring is not used. They are also used with a two-port bridge and IBM LNM support.
Source route bridging enables end stations to discover routes dynamically and determine which one to use when sending data to a particular destination. Depending on your network configuration and the route selection algorithm used, several routes can be discovered for each destination. The source examines the available routes and then determines the best route to use when sending data.
An end station can be configured to begin the route discovery process using either of the following methods:
When the source device sends out an all-routes explorer frame, the frame records the numbers of all the rings and bridges it passes through on its way to the destination.
When a bridge receives an all-routes explorer frame, it examines it to determine whether the frame has already been on any of the rings attached to the bridge. If the frame has not been on one of the attached rings, it is forwarded to that ring.
Because frames are not transmitted on rings on which they have previously traveled, no frame can follow the same route twice. With this mechanism, a frame is propagated in such a way that all possible routes to a destination are discovered, but no routes containing loops are received by the destination.
For more information about all-routes explorer frames, refer to Understanding.
By default, Novell's end station implementation originates route discovery using single-route explorer frames. When the bridge sends out a single-route explorer frame, the frame travels over a single route that is manually configured or automatically determined by the Spanning Tree Protocol. This protocol uses the configuration of each bridge in the network to determine a single route. With this method, the destination receives only one explorer frame, resulting in considerably less traffic than the use of all-routes explorer frames. The destination replies with an all-routes explorer frame, and the source then chooses the best route from all the frames it receives. The criteria used are determined by the end station implementation. For more information about single-route explorer frames, refer to Understanding.
For more information about source route end stations, refer to Understanding.
Before you begin, you must configure any required token ring boards.
To configure a source route end station, complete the following steps:
Load NIASCFG, then select the following parameter path:
Select Configure NIAS > Protocols and Routing > Protocols > Source Route End Stn
Select Enabled to enable the source route end station, press Enter , then press Esc to return to the Internetworking Configuration menu.
Bind the source route end station software to each interface.
Select Bindings and do one of the following:
If you are adding a new binding:
If you are modifying an existing binding, select the interface to which you are binding the protocol.
Select the type of route explorer frames (single or all) for the Send Frames with Unknown Address parameter.
Select Single Route Explorer Frame to limit explorer frame traffic.
Select the type of route explorer frames (single or all) for the Send Broadcast Frames parameter.
Select Single Route Explorer Frame to limit explorer frame traffic.
Select the type of route explorer frames (single or all) for the Send Multicast Frames parameter.
Select Single Route Explorer Frame to limit explorer frame traffic.
Select the type of frame (all-routes explorer or specifically routed) for the Respond to Broadcast Request parameter.
Select Specifically Routed Frame to limit explorer frame traffic.
Press Esc to return to the Internetworking Configuration menu; save your changes when prompted.
If you want these changes to take effect immediately, restart the router.
If you want to configure other parameters, do so now, then restart the router when you are finished.