Setting Up
73
Internetwork Packet Exchange
103-000176-001
August 29, 2001
Novell Confidential
Manual
99a
38
July 17, 2001
transmission is that NLSP packets sent by multicast do not clutter nonrouting
nodes with unnecessary traffic.
NOTE:
All NetWare systems on the same LAN must use the same NLSP packet
transmission mode.
NLSP makes large IPX internetworks more manageable by allowing you to
partition them into administrative domains called
routing areas
. Each routing
area can be identified by up to three
area addresses
, a unique, 4-byte
hexadecimal number that identifies each NLSP router as being part of a
routing area. Although area addresses are not required, they are available
chiefly for compatibility with future versions of NLSP and do provide some
benefit for large IPX internetworks.
WARNING:
Do not configure area addresses unless you must partition a large IPX
internetwork. If you make an error in the address assignments, you can partition
your network inadvertently and lose connectivity between some routers.
Each NLSP router is identified by a unique, 6-byte hexadecimal number called
the
system ID
. The default system ID comprises a 2-byte constant, 0x0200,
followed by the router's own internal network number. You should not change
the system ID unless you have another numbering scheme in place with which
you can reliably track and manage the NLSP routers on your network. If you
must change a router's system ID, use another unique number, such as the
physical address of one of the router's network interface boards.
Using a default
cost
value based on media throughput, NLSP chooses the best
route by which to forward IPX packets. Novell Internet Access Server 4.1
enables you to override this value on an interface. By overriding the default
cost, you can establish preferred routes, balance traffic loads among
interfaces, and set up specific traffic flows between routers. For more
information, refer to
“Balancing Traffic Loads over Equal-Cost Routes” on
All NLSP routers have a configurable parameter called the
Priority
. The
router with the highest priority becomes the
Designated Router
, which
assumes the responsibility for exchanges of link state information on behalf of
all other NLSP routers on the LAN. You do not typically need to change a
router's
Priority
value; the NLSP routers automatically elect one from
themselves. However, if you want to force a router to become the Designated
Router for its LAN, increase its
Priority
value to at least 85. The router you
choose should be typically up and should have enough memory to process
NLSP routing information and generate the
pseudonode
LSP for its LAN. If
you want to prevent a particular router from becoming the Designated Router,
decrease its
Priority
value.
