Perle Systems 1700 manual Bridging, Networks Bridged across a WAN link

Applications

Bridging

An Ethernet bridge intelligently forwards Ethernet data packet traffic between connected networks. The traffic may be across the Wide Area Network (illustrated below) or, in the case of the P1730, may be between two LANs connected to the same P1730.

WAN connection

Network #1

Windows for Workgroups Computers

Network #2

Windows for Workgroups Computers

Figure 2 -1 Networks Bridged across a WAN link

Ethernet bridges simply forward information based on Ethernet MAC addresses. If a packet is destined for a device located on a different network than the device that sent the packet, the bridge will forward that packet to the connected network. If a packet is destined for a device located on the same local network as the originating device, the bridge will ignore the packet.

Ethernet bridges also communicate to each other using what is called the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). STP is used to prevent loops in a network which cause traffic to be re- broadcast again and again causing network congestion.

The P1705 & P1730 are pre-configured to operate as an Ethernet bridge compatible with the IEEE 802.1d Spanning Tree Protocol definitions. This means that without configuration modifications, the P1705 & P1730 will bridge Ethernet traffic to its partner bridges when the Wide Area Network (WAN) connection has been established.

The P1705 & P1730 are also pre-configured as an IPX router. This means that if you wish to bridge IPX traffic instead of routing it, you must disable the IPX routing function of the router. Once IPX routing has been disabled, all IPX traffic will be bridged between networks.

To set-up a bridge between two LANs using a dual LAN P1730, all that is required is that the LANs be connected to the router.

To set-up a bridge between two networks connected by a WAN link:

−Connect each router to the LAN(s) it will be serving

−Connect the WAN interface of each router to the equipment supplied by the service provider

−Configure the remote site profile of the partner router if necessary

−Establish the WAN connection

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