3Com 500 manual Connecting To a Remote Novell Network

1-42 CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED

When no data is being passed between the workstation and server, the AccessBuilder 500 closes the ISDN connection and the units at each end of the link spoof the Novell IPX protocol so that both the workstation and server believe the connection is still valid. As soon as the unit identifies that data needs to be passed to the server, the ISDN connection is re-established without the user being aware of ever being disconnected. In this way ISDN calls are kept to a minimum.

Figure 1-21 Connecting To A Remote Novell Network

In the example shown in Figure 1-21, the Local Site is connected to a Remote Site. The Local Site shown has several workstations and a server but could equally consist solely of workstations or even a single workstation (such as in the case of a homeworker). The Remote Site may be a central site for an organization or simply another like-sized office.

If you are connecting to the remote site over a WAN leased line link, the AccessBuilder 500 has no need to spoof the IPX protocol as there is a permanent connection in place. Once the AccessBuilder 500 has determined that the server is on the Remote Site all data between the server and workstation is passed over the link.