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Desert View IPX Learning Objectives and Network Design
In Semester 3 chapter 7, we learned about Novell IPX protocols, operation, and configuration. IPX is a suite of protocols operating at all layers of the OSI model, and includes:
- IPX – connectionless layer 3 protocol that defines network and node addresses
- Novell Routing Information Protocol – routing protocol. Uses metrics of ticks and hops
- Service Advertising Protocol (SAP) – used to advertise network services
- SPX – connection-oriented layer 4 protocol
Novell IPX uses an 80-bit address, with a 32-bit network address assigned by the network administrator, and a 48-bit node address which is usually identical to the MAC address. Each router interface that participates in IPX routing must also have an address, and an appropriate encapsulation type. Novell IPX has 4 types of Ethernet framing:
- Ethernet 802.3 – default for Novell NetWare versions 2 through 3.11
- Ethernet 802.2 – default for Novell NetWare versions 3.12 and 4.x.
- Ethernet II – uses a standard Ethernet version II header, and is used with TCP/IP
- Ethernet SNAP – uses a Subnetwork Access Protocol header, and is used with AppleTalk and TCP/IP
Novell makes use of frequent broadcasts, which can reduce available bandwidth. On a Novell network, servers use SAP updates to advertise network resources, and clients use GNS requests to locate a login server. When a client on the same network segment requests a service, the server will respond with a SAP broadcast. Routers do not forward broadcasts, but maintain tables of known network services. When a client requests a service that is available on another network segment, the router will respond with the server's address. Routers also exchange SAP tables every 60 seconds so that each router can receive information about servers located across the internetwork. In addition, routers use Novell RIP to maintain their routing tables.
On the Desert View network, Novell IPX will be used in the computer lab located in Wing 3 West. 48 curriculum workstations will be requesting network services from the Novell server. The curriculum network will have network address 8, and the WAN link will have network address 6. The encapsulation type will be Ethernet 802.2.