User Guide

14 Server Communications Administration Guide
Server Communications Administration Guide
103-000145-001
August 30, 2001
Novell Confidential
Manual 99a38 July 17, 2001
Distance vector routing protocols determine the best route from one computer
to another based on the distance, or number of hops, and the time, or ticks, that
separate hosts. Link state routing protocols use a cost metric to determine the
best path between hosts.
Link state routing protocols are generally more accurate and efficient than
distance vector routing protocols and are better suited for traversing WAN
links. The table below shows the protocol and routing types associated with
the routing protocols:
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is a link state IP routing protocol. Its IPX
equivalent is NetWare Link Service Protocol
TM
(NLSP
TM
). Routing
Information Protocol (RIP) is a distance vector routing protocol used for both
IP and IPX routing, but with some variation between protocols. RIP II is a
newer IP routing protocol based on RIP that adds support for a subnet mask.
Coordination
See “Time Synchronization” on page 26 and “NDS Replication” on page 27.
IP Addressing
The IP address for a node is a logical address, independent of any particular
hardware, network topology, or media type. The IP address is a 4-byte (32-bit)
numeric value that identifies both a network and a local host or node
(computer or other device) on that network. The 4-byte IP address is usually
represented in dotted decimal notation. Each byte is represented by a decimal
number, and periods separate the bytes, for example, 129.47.6.17.
A conflict arises with Ethernet networks, because IP uses a 32-bit address and
Ethernet uses a 48-bit Ethernet address. To associate the IP address to a
physical address on an Ethernet network, a mapping must occur between the
Routing Protocol Protocol Type Routing Type
OSPF IP Link State
NLSP IPX Link State
RIP IP and IPX Distance Vector
RIP II IP Distance Vector