Cisco Systems BC-145 manual Token Ring VLANs, BC-147

Models: BC-145

1 26
Download 26 pages 15.5 Kb
Page 3
Image 3
Token Ring VLANs

Configuring Token Ring Inter-Switch Link

Technology Overview

Token Ring VLANs

A VLAN is essentially a broadcast domain. In transparent bridging, there is only one type of broadcast frame and, therefore, only one level of broadcast domain and one level of VLAN. In source routing, however, there are two types of broadcast frames:

Those that are confined to a single ring

Those that traverse the bridged domain

Therefore, there are two levels of VLANs in a Token Ring switched network.

The first level is the Token Ring Concentrator Relay Function (TrCRF). At this level, the VLAN is a logical ring and, as such, is assigned a ring number. On a Token Ring switch, the logical ring (TrCRF) contains one or more physical ports. On a router, the logical ring (TrCRF) does not contain any physical ports, but rather is used only in processing source-routed traffic to terminate the routing information field (RIF).

The second level is the Token Ring Bridge Relay Function (TrBRF). This is the parent VLAN to which TrCRF VLANs are assigned. At this level, the VLAN is a logical bridge and, as such, is assigned a bridge number. The logical bridge (TrBRF) contains the virtual ports that establish a connection between the TrBRF and its TrCRFs. The TrBRF can be extended across a network of switches and routers via ISL, as shown in Figure 52.

Figure 52 Physical View of Switches Interconnected via ISL

Switch A

Switch B

 

 

ISL

 

 

TrBRF 3

 

TrCRF

TrCRF

TrCRF

400

350

200

S6813

When you extend the TrBRF across an ISL link, you are essentially extending the bridge across devices, as shown in Figure 53.

Figure 53 Logical View of Switches Interconnected via ISL

TrBRF 3

TrCRF

TrCRF

TrCRF

400

350

200

51859

Therefore, if you use source-route bridging between the TrCRFs that belong to the TrBRF, only one hop appears in the RIF.

Traffic is switched between the ports in a TrCRF and bridged via SRB or SRT between the TrCRFs in a TrBRF.

 

 

Cisco IOS Bridging and IBM Networking Configuration Guide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

78-11737-02

 

 

BC-147

 

 

 

 

 

Page 3
Image 3
Cisco Systems BC-145 manual Token Ring VLANs, BC-147