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Introduction to Novell IPX

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the administrator didn't know what to do and just configured all available
frame types on all routers and servers, as shown in Figure 8.3.

F I G U R E 8 . 3

Multiple frame types on a single Ethernet segment

Each frame type in Figure 8.3 has a unique IPX network address. Even

though there's a single Ethernet segment, there are three virtual IPX networks
and, therefore, three unique IPX network addresses. Each network will be
broadcast across the internetwork every 60 seconds.

In Figure 8.3, Workstation 1 can communicate only with Server C

because they're both running Ethernet_II. Workstation 2 can communicate
only with Server A, and Workstation 3 can communicate only with Server B.
But what if you wanted all the workstations to communicate with all the
servers--what would you do? You can add a router that supports all frame
types, or you can add more frame types to each server. Adding a router
would allow any workstation to communicate with any of the servers, but
that router would have to route all packets among all the servers and clients
with dissimilar frame types. Adding multiple frame types to servers and rout-
ers is not a good solution. It's best to have one frame type, probably 802.2,
in your internetwork. However, NetWare 5 introduced a native IP, so all this
is irrelevant unless you have to support older servers.

When configuring a router, you'll need to know both the frame type and the

IPX network address information for each segment that you plan to attach that
router to. To find this information, ask the network administrator or go to one
of the NetWare servers and type config at the server console.

Ethernet_802.2
Novell Server A

Ethernet_802.3
Novell Server B

Ethernet_II

Novell Server C

Workstation 1

Ethernet_II

Workstation 2

Ethernet_802.2

Workstation 3

Ethernet_802.3

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