NS3000/iX NMMGR Screens Reference Manual - Edition 8 (36922-90038)

Chapter 15 303
Network Directory
What a Network Directory Provides
What a Network Directory Provides
A network directory is used by the node for internetwork routing. Each
entry in a network directory consists of a node name associated with an
IP address, the network type, and an additional address, if necessary.
The network directory uses the internet protocol (IP) address to
transfer data between networks.
When a Network Directory is Required
A network directory must be configured on nodes with X.25 links.
Point-to-Point nodes that do not use domain name services require
network directory configuration. You must also configure a network
directory when non-HP nodes are part of an HP LAN or token ring and
you are not using domain name services. At least one node on LAN and
token ring networks must have a network directory if any of the nodes
on that network are to communicate with the internet and you are not
using domain name services.
The network directory of a node in a point-to-point network must
contain the IP address of all other nodes that you want the node to be
able to reach. When configuring the network directory for a
point-to-point network, make sure that the IP address you enter in the
network directory matches the data in the mapping screens (path name
NETXPORT.NI.
NIname .MAPPING. mapentry ).
For nodes on an X.25 network, the network directory maps the X.25
address key to an IP address to allow a node to communicate within the
X.25 network. You must configure a network directory for nodes using
X.25.
Probe and Proxy Servers
Because HP 3000s on an IEEE 802.3/Ethernet LAN use a proprietary
HP protocol called probe, they are able to communicate on a LAN
without a network directory. A node on an HP LAN can determine
connection information about a node on the same LAN by sending a
multicast probe request out on the LAN. The target node recognizes its
address in the probe request and sends an individually addressed probe
reply with the necessary connection information to the requesting node.
The probe request/reply mechanism is sufficient to obtain connection
requirements in an HP LAN environment.
However, at least one node on an HP LAN must have a network
directory if the nodes on that LAN are to communicate with other
networks and you are not using domain name services. The node with
the network directory on a LAN is called a proxy server. By using the
probe protocol, a LAN node without a network directory can multicast a