Configuring AppleTalk on an Access Server

Configuring AppleTalk on an Access Server

Introduction

You can configure an access server to act as an AppleTalk node on the network and many different components can then be monitored. The configuration of the AppleTalk characteristics can be done only in the NVRAM database. This means that the manager has to reinitialize the access server after making a change to any of the AppleTalk characteristics before the changes take effect. This chapter does not address managing asynchronous connections. For information about ATCP, see Chapter 19. This chapter assumes you have a basic understanding of the AppleTalk protocol suite.

AppleTalk Address Format

AppleTalk node addresses consist of two fields: a network number and a node number. A network number can be in the range 1 to 65534. A node number can be in the range 1 to 254. The network and node numbers are separated by a period (.).

Enabling AppleTalk

By default, AppleTalk is not enabled on an access server. In order for the access server to act as an AppleTalk node on the network, a privileged user has to enable AppleTalk explicitly with the following DEFINE command:

Local> DEFINE APPLETALK ENABLED

Then the access server has to be reinitialized. Upon reinitialization, the access server functions as an AppleTalk node by doing the following:

Acquiring an AppleTalk address and zone

Registering its AppleTalk name

Acquiring and defending AppleTalk addresses for attached hosts

Forwarding AppleTalk DDP packets

Permitting hosts attached via asynchronous lines to participate in the AppleTalk protocol

Responding to SNMP requests for AppleTalk information

Responding to AppleTalk Echo packets

8-2 Managing AppleTalk