Specifications

2
1 Introduction
Ethernet Remote Bridge/Router
The Ethernet remote bridge/router provides IP and IPX routing combined with a protocol transparent bridge. This
bridge/router combination is often the best solution to linking remotely located LANs where most of the traffic is IP or IPX
with smaller amounts of traffic from other protocols such as NetBIOS or DEC LAT.
The Ethernet bridge/router supports the widely implemented Routing Information Protocol, otherwise known as RIP. RIP
support allows the Ethernet to interoperate with other vendors’ routers.
The Ethernet remote bridge/router will operate as delivered, providing increased LAN performance directly out of the box
without the need for complex pre-configuration. However, in those situations where specific customization is required, an
easy-to-use “hotkey” menuing Bridge/Router Manager console provides access to LAN and Link statistical information, and
control of the network configuration.
With increased LAN and Link management capability, you will be able to detect LAN and Link problems, determine
utilization patterns, and plan for future expansion that will optimize your existing data-communication resources.
The Ethernet bridge/router can be thought of as a group of discrete functions combined in a single box. The first functional
module is the LAN interface, which receives all LAN traffic and then decides where individual frames should be sent: to the
IP router, to the IPX router, to the bridge, to the management system, or discarded altogether. After the LAN interface there
are several functional units including the IP router, the IPX router, the bridge, and the management system. Any traffic that
these modules need sent across a link is then forwarded to the link module, which control data coming and going on the
WAN ports. The following figure illustrates the relationships between the various component modules in an Ethernet
bridge/router.
Figure 1 - 1 Ethernet Bridge/Router Block Diagram
The menu system provides a method to control whether IP & IPX traffic is routed through the router modules, or bridged
through the bridge module along with all other bridged data.
IP Routing and the Ethernet Remote Bridge/Router
The Ethernet bridge/router may be used to route only between subnets within the same network, or between different
networks.
Network broadcasts sent within a subnet-routed environment will not be forwarded to the other subnets in the network.
The procedure for establishing an IP connection through an IP router is explained on the next few pages.