Compatible Systems 5.4 manual RIP Update Timer, Optional Remote Node Network Number

62 Chapter 3 - IPX Routing & Bridging

connection is up, network traffic passing across the link causes the inactivity timer for the link to be reset, keeping the connection up.

The IPX RIP protocol periodically sends out update information across a link. These periodic update packets will cause a WAN interface set for dial-on-demand operation to either stay up indefinitely, or to continuously dial, connect, and then drop the connection.

•If Triggered is selected with this pull-down menu, the device will modify the standard IPX RIP behavior for this interface to send IPX RIP packets only when there has been an update to its routing table informa- tion, or when it has detected a change in the accessibility of the next hop router.

•If Periodic is selected with this pull-down menu, the device will use the standard IPX RIP protocol, which sends RIP packets over the link based on the RIP Update Timer value set below.

RIP Update Timer

This value dictates how often the device sends out IPX RIP (Routing Infor- mation Protocol) packets on the WAN link attached to this interface. The RIP packets sent out on this interface contain information about networks for which this device is responsible. RIP packets received tell the device about other networks and routers. The default is 60 seconds.

SAP Update Timer

This value dictates how often the device sends out IPX SAP (Service Access Protocol) packets on the WAN link attached to this interface. The SAP packets sent out on this interface contain information about services (such as servers, printers, etc.) for which this device is responsible. SAP packets received tell this device about services available on other network segments. The default is 60 seconds.

Optional Remote Node Network Number

Besides defining a method for router-to-router communication, the PPP protocol defines a method for individual client machines to dial in to a router interface. Once a client machine has connected to a router interface in this fashion, the router provides proxy services which allow the client machine to participate as a node on one of the router’s local networks.

If remote node operation is desired, the WAN interface would usually be set up as an unnumbered interface, and the Remote Node Network Number would then be set to an IPX network number from the router’s Ethernet interface(s).

Alternatively, if the interface is set to be numbered, an unused IPX network number may be used.