Cabletron Systems CSX400 - Manual (Page 21)

3-1
Chapter 3
CSX Bridge View
A brief explanation of bridging methods; a tour of the Bridge Traffic View; using the Detail View;
monitoring bridge operation; using the Special Database and the Filtering Database; configuring
bridge operating parameters; setting forwarding thresholds, statistics, and notification options; setting
polling parameters; enabling and disabling bridges
The SPECTRUM Portable Management Application (SPMA) Bridge View for the
CSX200/400 presents a series of windows that describe the modulesÕ bridge and
bridge ports. The Bridge View is supported by the dot1dBridge MIB. You can
monitor bridge activity and performance and manage bridge conÞguration for
Transparent bridging through the Bridge TrafÞc View and other related windows.
Bridging Basics
Bridges are used in local area networks to connect two or more network segments
and to control the ßow of packets between the segments. Ideally, bridges forward
packets to another network segment only when necessary. Bridges are also used
to increase the fault tolerance in a local area network by creating redundant
bridge paths between network segments. This is so that in the event of a bridge or
bridge segment failure, an alternate bridge path will be available to network
trafÞc, without signiÞcant interruption to its ßow.
The method a CSX200/400 bridge uses to forward packets, choose a bridge path,
and ensure that a sending stationÕs messages take only one bridge path is known
as Transparent Bridging.
NOTE
In many Bridge View windows you may see grayed out options for Source Routing.
Source Routing is a different kind of bridging which does not apply to your CSX200/400
bridge.