Product specifications

Chapter 2: Product Overview Efficient Networks
®
Router family
Technical Reference Guide
Page 2-8 Efficient Networks
®
Routing and Bridging Controls
The router can be configured to perform general routing and bridging while allowing
you to set specific controls.
• One remote router can be designated as the outbound default bridging
destination. All outbound bridging traffic with an unknown destination is sent
to the default bridging destination.
• Bridging can be enabled or disabled for specific remote routers.
• Routing can be enabled or disabled for the entire router and for individual
remotes.
Operation of the router is influenced by routing and bridging controls and filters set
during router configuration as well as automatic spoofing and filtering performed by
the router. For example, general IP or IPX routing, and routing or bridging from
specific remote routers are controls set during the configuration process.
Spoofing and filtering, which minimize the number of packets that flow across the
WAN, are performed automatically by the router. For example, RIP routing packets
and certain NetBEUI packets are spoofed even if only bridging is enabled.
System Interoperability
The router uses industry-wide standards to ensure compatibility with routers and
equipment from other vendors. To inter-operate, the router supports standard
protocols on the physical level, data link level, and network level. For two systems to
communicate directly, they must use the same protocol at each level.
The data-link protocol level defines the transmission of data packets between two
systems over the LAN or WAN physical link. The frame type or encapsulation method
defines a way to run multiple network-level protocols over a single LAN or WAN link.
Most protocols do not support negotiable options, except for PPP.
The router supports both ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) and Frame Relay
transmission. ATM transport uses fixed-length cells; Frame Relay transport uses
variable-length packets.
Level Interoperability Determined by
Physical
media
Hardware and electrical
signaling
Router Ethernet and modem hard-
ware interfaces for copper wire or fi-
ber cable
Data link Packet transmission
method (frame type or
encapsulation method)
Router hardware and software ker-
nel. Can be Ethernet, ATM, or Frame
Relay
Network
layer
Network protocol Router configuration. Can be IP or
IPX