Netopia R5100 User Reference Manual

Also see for R5100: Specifications User reference guide

Contents

Netopia R5100 User Reference Manual Manual pdf 138 page image

11-2 User’s Reference GuideIf the cabling of your network were a street system, then a node address would correspond to a building’sstreet address. But node addresses are not permanent. Each AppleTalk device determines its node address atstartup. Although a Macintosh that is starting up will try to use its previous address, the address will often bedifferent upon restart. This dynamic node addressing scheme prevents conflicts when devices are movedbetween networks and simplifies the administrative tasks of a network. If you have only one network, the nodeaddress alone is all the information AppleTalk needs to send a packet from one computer to another.However, networks can be connected together through routers, such as the Netopia R5000 Series, into aninternetwork (often shortened to internet). Because devices on different networks can have duplicate nodenumbers, AppleTalk tells them apart according to an additional part of their addresses: the network number.The Netopia R5000 Series assigns a unique network number to each member network. In terms of the citystreet metaphor, the network number is similar to the name of the street. Putting a network number togetherwith a node number fully specifies the address of a node on an internet.To make the services on an internet manageable, groups of devices on a network can be grouped into zones.When this is done, selecting a network service (server, etc.) includes choosing a zone from which the servicecan be selected. Like network numbers, zone names are assigned by routers.A routing table is maintained by each AppleTalk router. The table serves as a map of the internet, specifying thepath and distance, in hops, between its router and other networks. The routing table is used to determinewhether a router will forward a data packet and, if so, to which network.You can use the information in the AppleTalk routing table to observe and diagnose the Netopia R5000 SeriesRouter’s current connections to other AppleTalk routers. To go to the AT Routing Table screen from the NetopiaR5000 Series Router’s console, select Statistics & Logs from the Main Menu and then select AppleTalkRouting Table. An AT Routing Table similar to the one shown below appears.A router has multiple communications ports and is capable of forwarding information to other routers anddevices on the internet. The router performs packet forwarding, network and device address maintenance, andother administrative functions required by the AppleTalk protocols.AT Routing Table-Net---Range--Def Zone Name----------Hops-State-Next Rtr Addr.--Pkts Fwded----------------------------------SCROLL UP--------------------------1 -- Admin 2 Good 46.131 02 -- AdMan 2 Good 46.131 03 -- Aspirations 2 Good 46.131 04 -- Sales 2 Good 46.131 05 -- Marketing 2 Good 46.131 06 -- Molluscs 2 Good 46.131 17 -- Customer Service 2 Good 46.131 18 -- Telemarketing 2 Good 46.131 010 -- Rio 2 Good 46.131 011 -- Regiment 2 Good 46.131 012 -- Rhinos 2 Good 46.131 016 -- Unique Services 2 Good 46.131 0*24 27 Aspirations 1 Good 46.131 7928 31 Rhinos 1 Good 46.131 15---------------------------------SCROLL DOWN-------------------------UPDATE'*' Entries have multiple zone names. Return/Enter on these to see zone list.