Enterasys Networks CSX5500, CSX6000, CSX7000 manual Configuring Advanced Bridging, Bridge Dial OUT

CONFIGURING ADVANCED BRIDGING

OVERVIEW

When bridging is enabled, optional advanced features are available. Optional bridging features include:

•bridge dial out

•Spanning Tree Protocol

•mode of operation

•bridging filters

•known connect lists

This chapter includes a section for each advanced bridging feature.

BRIDGE DIAL OUT

With bridging enabled, bridge dial out is supported. Bridge dial out allows the CyberSWITCH to initiate connections to bridge devices at remote sites. The system accepts bridge data received on the Ethernet LAN or ISDN network, and initiates a data connection to a bridge device specified in the device data.

Standard bridge processing attempts to forward non-local MAC frames to configured devices if a connection is up. Now, with the bridge dial out feature, the system will initiate the call, if necessary, through the use of bridge filters or a Known Connect list. Refer to the Bridge Filters section and the Known Connect List section for further information.

The “bridge” determines if a connection already exists, or whether a connection should be initiated. The MAC frame is simply forwarded if a connection already exists. If a connection does not, the CyberSWITCH will map the Bridge Address or Dial Out Device Name to a phone number, and initiate a connection. The normal connection processing, protocol negotiation, and data forwarding mechanisms are followed once the connection is requested.

The CyberSWITCH handles bridge dial out as follows:

•If a filter exists, the system checks the filter first. The system will take action on the packet based on the filter.

•If no filter exists, or if no action is taken on the packet based on the filter, the system checks the status of the Known Connect list next. If the packet’s destination address corresponds to a de- vice on the Known Connect list, and the packet meets other dial out requirements, the packet is forwarded.

Each of these procedures requires a properly configured Device List. This Device List may be con- figured locally, or it may be configured on an off-node authentication server.