Perle Systems IOLINK-520 Section 1 Introduction

Section 1 — Introduction

The IOLINK-PRO & 520 routers provide IP and IPX routing combined with a protocol transparent bridge. This

bridge/router combination is often the best solution to linking remotely located LANs where most of the traffic is IP or IPX

with smaller amounts of traffic from other protocols such as NetBIOS or DEC LAT.

The IOLINK router supports the widely implemented Routing Information Protocol, otherwise known as RIP. RIP support

allows the IOLINK router to interoperate with other vendors’ routers.

The IOLINK-PRO & 520 routers will operate as delivered, providing increased LAN performance directly out of the box

without the need for complex pre-configuration. However, in those situations where specific customization is required, an

easy-to-use “hotkey” menuing Bridge/Router Manager console provides access to LAN and Link statistical information, and

control of the network configuration.

With increased LAN and Link management capability, you will be able to detect LAN and Link problems, determine

utilization patterns, and plan for future expansion that will optimize your existing data-communication resources.

The IOLINK router can be thought of as a group of discrete functions combined in a single box. The first functional module

is the LAN interface, which receives all LAN traffic and then decides where individual frames should be sent: to the IP router ,

to the IPX router, to the bridge, to the management system, or discarded altogether. After the LAN interface there are several

functional units including the IP router, the IPX router, the bridge, and the management system. Any traffic that these

modules need sent across a link is then forwarded to the link modules, which control data coming and going on the WAN

ports. The following figure illustrates the relationships between the various component modules in a IOLINK router.

LAN Interface

Module Bridge

Module

IPX Router

Module

Management

Module

Link #1

Module

Link #2

Module

IP Router

Module

Figure 1 - 1 IOLINK Router Block Diagram

The IOLINK router menu system provides a method to control whether IP & IPX traffic is routed through the router

modules, or bridged through the bridge module along with all other bridged data.

The IOLINK router may be used to route only between subnets within the same network, or between different networks.

Network broadcasts sent within a subnet-routed environment will not be forwarded to the other subnets in the network.

The procedure for establishing an IP connection through an IP router is explained on the next few pages.