Cabletron Systems CSX200, CSX400 manual Bridging Basics, Chapter

Chapter 4

Bridging

A brief explanation of bridging methods; viewing and managing bridging interfaces; using the Bridge Status window; enabling and disabling bridging; viewing bridge statistics; using Spanning Tree; using the Filtering Database; using the Source Route Configuration window; using the Find Source Address feature; using the Port Source Addresses window; configuring duplex modes; using SONET port configuration options; configuring broadcast suppression; using the Token Ring Bridge Mode window; using the Physical View windows; using the Interface Configuration window; using the Bridge Configuration and Port Configuration windows; and configuring SmartTrunking

Bridging Basics

Bridges are used in local area networks to connect two or more network segments and to control the ßow of packets between the segments. Ideally, bridges forward packets to another network segment only when necessary.

Bridges are also used to increase the fault tolerance in a local area network by creating redundant bridge paths between network segments. In the event of a bridge or bridge segment failure, an alternate bridge path will be available to network trafÞc, without signiÞcant interruption to its ßow.

The method a bridge uses to forward packets, choose a bridge path, and ensure that a sending stationÕs messages take only one bridge path depends on the bridgeÕs type: Transparent (generally used in Ethernet or FDDI environments) or Source Routing (generally used in Token Ring environments), source routing-transparent, or source route-transparentÑthe two latter being combinations that are found in a mixed network environment.

NOTE

Not all of the sections in this chapter Ñ Source Routing and Token Ring information, for example Ñ are applicable to your CSX200/400 device.

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