Understanding
11
Internetwork Packet Exchange
103-000176-001
August 29, 2001
Novell Confidential
Manual
99a
38
July 17, 2001
1
Understanding
This section describes the processes and protocols that govern Internetwork
Packet Exchange
TM
(IPX
TM
) routing in the NetWare
®
networking
environment. In particular, it examines the mechanics of IPX packet routing
and the administration of routing and service information on an IPX
internetwork.
Each NetWare protocol plays a different role in enabling a NetWare router to
perform its tasks. Media access control (MAC) protocols and IPX provide the
addressing mechanism that delivers packets to their destination. The Routing
Information Protocol (RIP), Service Advertising Protocol (SAP), and
NetWare Link Services Protocol
TM
(NLSP
TM
) protocols provide the means by
which routers gather routing and service information and share it with other
routers on an internetwork.
Although the NetWare Core Protocol
TM
(NCP
TM
) software does not play a
direct role in routing, it does provide session control and packet-level error
checking between NetWare workstations and routers. Similarly, the
Sequenced Packet Exchange
TM
(SPX
TM
) protocol neither routes packets nor
advertises service information, but guarantees delivery of each packet to its
destination.
shows how the NetWare protocols correspond to the Open
Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model. Because this model
represents only a basic framework for networking functionality, not all
NetWare protocols fit neatly into a single functional layer.