Introducing the Network 9000 Routing Hub
1.3.2
Software Image Loading
When a processor module is plugged into the Hub it will run diagnostics then attempt to load
itself with operational software. Network 9000 product s are capable of loading from: a memory
card installed in the processor modules' memory card slot; another Network 9000 product
module acting as a load server; a host on the network via the DEC MOP protocol, RARP/TFTP,
BOOTP/TFTP, directed TFTP, or by other Xyplex products (XMOP). The network manager
can select which method the product module will use to load software. The control storage on the
ac power input module mentioned earlier holds this loading information. The control storage
is configured at the factory with a default initialization configuration for each product module
(load from midplane Ethernet LAN segment A, all protocols enabled).
Three initialization configurations are available for each slot (these are referred to as primary,
secondary, and tertiary initialization configurations). Each initialization configuration
specifies where the product module should to attempt to load from (e.g. Ethernet A, WAN
connector 1) and which protocols to use. If loading fails based on the information in the primary
record then the secondary configuration is used and finally the tertiary. If all configurations
fail the product module waits briefly then retries starting with the primary configuration.
1.3.3
Parameter Storage and Loading
Each product module uses and stores two sets of parameters: initialization parameters and
operational parameters. Both types of parameters are not stored on the card itself, rather they
are stored elsewhere on the network to facilitate "hot swapping" of modules in the hub.
Initialization parameters refer to values that the product module uses during the software
loading process. Initialization parameters include which protocols should be used to load
software and operational parameters. These parameters are stored in the Control Storage of
the ac input module of the Network 9000 chassis. You can change most of these parameters via
the product module's initialization configuration menu or by the commands listed in the
Guide to Managing Network 9000 Devices and Power Supplies.
Operational parameters (e.g., those affected by DEFINE commands) affect the operation of the
device after it has been loaded. Typically, operational parameters affect WAN or LAN
interfaces, serial ports (e.g., speed, parity, character size, etc), the availability of local
services, Internet characteristics (e.g., internet-address, domain-name, subnet-mask, etc),
and LAT characteristics, etc, depending on the product. You can configure the unit to load its
operational parameters from a flash memory card, if one is available, or from a network host,
called a parameter server, using the initialization configuration menu. Alternatively, you
can use DEFINE SERVER commands to change the parameter loading method (refer to the
Guide to Managing Network 9000 Devices and Power Supplies for more information).
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