A ring station that passeson source routing packets (at the Data Link layer) is not considered a router in the same sense as a specialized router is.ġ) An all-stations broadcast (common to all Token-Ring networks)Ģ) A route determination broadcast (specific to source routing) We will define these two terms explicitly later. 'Router' refers to a dedicated device using the ISO Network layer for frame-forwarding instructions (such as a NetWare 'bridge,' which is now called a router). The term bridge as used in this AppNote refers to a source-routing bridge. There are two distinct types of bridges -transparent bridges and source routing bridges. 'Bridge' refers to a device using the ISO Data Link layer for frame-forwarding instructions(such as an IBM Token-Ring Network bridge). 'Frame,' synonymous with 'packet,' is used to denote the basic unit of transmission on the network.

In this AppNote, we use a combination of IBM, Novell, and industry terminology (unless otherwise noted): The information for this AppNote came from various publication (listed in the bibliography) and from interviews with engineers and consultants familiar with source routing n the Token-Ring environment. Future AppNotes on this subject will include specific implementation notes for source routing in a mixed-vendor environment. This information will be most valuable to people who are designing, implementing, and administering complex Token-Ring networks. This document supplies critical conceptual information rather than extensive performance benchmarking data. The purpose of this AppNote is to provide a solid understanding of Token-Ring source routing. Special thanks is given to Stephen Belisle and Bob Ross of Novell for their invaluable input in the creation of this AppNote. It covers frame structure, route determination processes, and source-routing bridge operation. As the first in a series of AppNotes on NetWare's source routing implementation, this document explains basic concepts necessary to understand how source routing works in a generic Token-Ring environment. This AppNote describes how source routing works with the IEEE 802.5 Token-Ring Network.

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