Chapter 3 Ip Routing Configuration Guide; Ip Routing Overview; Ip Routing Protocols; Unicast Routing Protocols - Cabletron Systems SmartSwitch 8-slot User's Reference Manual

Chapter 3 IP Routing Configuration Guide

This chapter describes how to configure IP interfaces and general non-protocol-
specific routing parameters.

IP Routing Overview

Internet Protocol (IP) is a packet-based protocol used to exchange data over computer
networks. IP handles addressing, routing, fragmentation, reassembly, and protocol
demultiplexing. In addition, IP specifies how hosts and routers should process packets,
handle errors and discard packets. IP forms the foundation upon which transport layer
protocols, such as TCP or UDP, interoperate over a routed network.
The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is built upon the IP layer. TCP is a
connection-oriented protocol that specifies the data format, buffering and
acknowledgments used in the transfer of data. TCP is a full-duplex connection which
also specifies the procedures that the computers use to ensure that the data arrives
correctly.
The User Datagram Protocol (UDP) provides the primary mechanism that applications
use to send datagrams to other application programs. UDP is a connectionless protocol
that does not guarantee delivery of datagrams between applications. Applications
which use UDP are responsible for ensuring successful data transfer by employing
error handling, retransmission and sequencing techniques.
TCP and UDP also specify "ports," which identify the application which is using TCP/
UDP. For example, a web server would typically use TCP/UDP port 80, which
specifies HTTP-type traffic.
The SSR supports standards based TCP, UDP, and IP.

IP Routing Protocols

The SSR supports standards based unicast and multicast routing. Unicast routing
protocol support include Interior Gateway Protocols and Exterior Gateway Protocols.
Multicast routing protocols are used to determine how multicast data is transferred in
a routed environment.

Unicast Routing Protocols

Interior Gateway Protocols are used for routing networks that are within an
"autonomous system," a network of relatively limited size. All IP interior gateway
protocols must be specified with a list of associated networks before routing activities
can begin. A routing process listens to updates from other routers on these networks
Chapter 3