
INTRODUCTION
Page 1-7
The second filtering process, the Cabletron Systems Special Filtering
Database, provides an additional step in the filter/forward decision.
Through Remote Management, you can define up to 10 additional
filtering parameters for incoming network traffic. These parameters
include (but are not limited to) the:
•
destination address
•
source address
•
type field (protocol)
•
64 bytes of the data field (using a data offset).
For example, using this process, you can ensure that the ETWMIM
always filters or forwards packets with a specific protocol or address.
1.5.3
Source Route Bridging
Source Route Bridging, currently used in Token Ring and WAN
networks, operates by transmitting frames over a designated route.
Unlike Transparent Bridging, all devices in a Source Route Bridged
(SRB) network “know” the locations of other stations within the
network. Using a portion of the MAC frame header, the source bridge
determines the route for the frames it sends.
In order for source routing to work, the source station must determine
the proper route to reach the desired destination. To accomplish this:
•
The source station sends out frames called All Route Explorer
(ARE) frames onto the network. All Source Route Bridges
recognize these ARE frames and copy them into their outbound
port tables.
•
The receiving bridges append their own route information to
the Route Information Field (RIF) in the MAC frame header
and transmit the frame again.
•
Eventually, the original source device receives all of the ARE
replies from the other Source Route Bridges on the network.
•
From this information, the source device can determine a
desired route for each frame it transmits.