Cabletron Systems CSX200 User Manual

Also see for SPECTRUM: User guide User guide User guide User guide Guide

Contents

3-1Chapter 3CSX Bridge ViewA brief explanation of bridging methods; a tour of the Bridge Traffic View; using the Detail View;monitoring bridge operation; using the Special Database and the Filtering Database; configuringbridge operating parameters; setting forwarding thresholds, statistics, and notification options; settingpolling parameters; enabling and disabling bridgesThe SPECTRUM Portable Management Application (SPMA) Bridge View for theCSX200/400 presents a series of windows that describe the modules’ bridge andbridge ports. The Bridge View is supported by the dot1dBridge MIB. You canmonitor bridge activity and performance and manage bridge configuration forTransparent bridging through the Bridge Traffic View and other related windows.Bridging BasicsBridges are used in local area networks to connect two or more network segmentsand to control the flow of packets between the segments. Ideally, bridges forwardpackets to another network segment only when necessary. Bridges are also usedto increase the fault tolerance in a local area network by creating redundantbridge paths between network segments. This is so that in the event of a bridge orbridge segment failure, an alternate bridge path will be available to networktraffic, without significant interruption to its flow.The method a CSX200/400 bridge uses to forward packets, choose a bridge path,and ensure that a sending station’s messages take only one bridge path is knownas Transparent Bridging.NOTEIn many Bridge View windows you may see grayed out options for Source Routing.Source Routing is a different kind of bridging which does not apply to your CSX200/400bridge.