Specifications

TOKEN RING OVERVIEW
2-36
Ring Parameter Server
The ring Parameter Server is a network management function that resides
on every ring in which the operational parameters are centrally managed.
It serves two (2) purposes for the Token Ring network:
• Target for all Request Initialization MAC frames that are sent by ring
stations during attachment to the ring. This allows the station to send
the frame to a known address (the ring parameter server functional
address) on its own ring only, without having to broadcast on all other
rings. The ring parameter server sends this registration information to
the AM.
• Makes the following parameters readily available to all ring stations on
the ring (using the Station MAC frame):
- Ring Number
- Station Soft Error Report Timer Value
- Physical Location
This guarantees that the Ring Number and Station Soft Error Report Timer
Value are the same for all stations on the ring.
Ring Error Monitor
The Ring Error Monitor provides three functions:
• Collects error reports from stations on the attached ring.
• Further analyzes the soft error reports and when thresholds are
exceeded, reports the fault domain and the error condition to the AM.
• Forwards the other reports received from stations on the ring to the
AM.
This server is present on rings for which errors are to be monitored or
analyzed. Its functional address is the destination address for error reports
generated by stations.