Product specifications

Efficient Networks
®
Router family
Technical Reference Guide
Chapter 2: Product Overview
Efficient Networks
®
Page 2-5
Routing offers advantages over bridging because:
• It limits broadcasts to the local LAN segment.
• It limits the protocols that are routed beyond the LAN segment.
• Routed protocols allow networks to grow as large as needed.
• Filters and firewalls can provide screens for improved security and managed
traffic flow.
Numerous network protocols have evolved, and within certain protocol suites are
associated protocols for routing, error handling, network management, etc. The
following chart lists networking protocols and associated protocols supported by the
router.
Bridging
Bridging connects two or more LANs so that all devices share the same logical LAN
segment and network numbers. Transparent bridging allows locally connected
devices to send frames to all devices as if they were local.
The MAC layer header contains source and destination addresses used to transfer
frames. An address table is dynamically built and updated with the logical port a
device is connected to as frames are received.
Table 2-1: Network Protocols
Network Protocol Associated Protocols Description
IP
(Internet Protocol)
RIP (Routing Information Protocol) Maintains a map of the network
ARP (Address-Resolution Protocol) Maps IP addresses to data-link
addresses
RARP (Reverse Address Resolution
Protocol)
a
a
Used only during a network boot.
Maps data-link addresses to IP
addresses
ICMP (Internetwork Control Message
Protocol)
Diagnostic and error reporting/re-
covery
SNMP (Simple Network Management
Protocol)
Network management
IPX
(Internet Packet
Exchange)
RIP (Routing Information Protocol)
b
b
IPX-RIP is a different protocol from IP-RIP and it includes time delays.
Maintains a map of the network
SAP (Service Advertising Protocol) Distributes information about ser-
vice names and addresses