Cabletron Systems SPECTRUM, User Manual

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6-1
Chapter 6
Using the 7C0x SmartSwitch
Bridge View
A brief explanation of bridging methods; a tour of the Bridge Traffic View; using the Detail View;
monitoring bridge operation; using the Filtering Database; configuring bridge operating parameters;
setting forwarding thresholds, statistics, and notification options; setting polling parameters; enabling
and disabling bridge interfaces
The SPECTRUM Portable Management Application (SPMA) Bridge View
presents a series of windows that describe the bridging services available via the
modules installed in your 7C0x SmartSwitch chassis. You can monitor bridge
activity and performance and manage bridge configuration through the Bridge
Traffic View and other related windows.
Bridging Basics
Bridges are used in local area networks to connect two or more network segments
and to control the flow of packets between the segments. Ideally, bridges forward
packets to another network segment only when necessary. Bridges are also used
to increase the fault tolerance in a local area network by creating redundant
bridge paths between network segments. This is so that in the event of a bridge or
bridge segment failure, an alternate bridge path will be available to network
traffic, without significant interruption to its flow.
The method a bridge uses to forward packets, choose a bridge path, and ensure
that a sending station’s messages take only one bridge path depends on the
bridge’s type: Transparent or Source Routing. This chapter describes viewing and
configuration options related to Transparent bridges.
TIP
Source route bridging is not yet supported for the 7C0x SmartSwitch, as no Token Ring
NIMs are currently available.