Scenario: Bridged connection to an Ethernet network

 

This scenario involves connecting a System i™ model to an Ethernet local area network (LAN) using a 6611 Network Processor. The 6611 Network Processor is used as both the frame-relay frame handler and a bridge.

The following figure shows the configuration of a System i platform for frame-relay communications with devices on an Ethernet network.

Figure 1. Bridged configuration to the Ethernet network

The Ethernet LAN is connected by using a 6611 Network Processor bridge and transparent bridging. The bridge is connected to the System i platform by using a T1 link.

As seen in the figure, there is no frame-relay network in the connection between the System i platform and the 6611 Network Processor. In this scenario, the System i platform provides the frame handler (FH) or DCE function, and the 6611 Network Processor bridge is the terminal equipment (TE). Both SNA APPC/APPN and TCP/IP traffic are possible in this configuration. The TCP/IP configuration for line ETHER6611 is done similarly to the way all Ethernet lines are configured for TCP/IP on the System i platform.

Use the following commands to configure the System i platform connection to the Ethernet network through a 6611 Network Processor. 

CRTNWIFR   NWID(FT1) RSRCNAME(LIN231) NRZI(*YES)1 
           INTERFACE(*RS449V36)2 LINESPEED(1536000)2 +
           LMIMODE(*FH)3 +
           TEXT('Network Interface for T1 link to Ethernet Bridge')

CRTLINETH4 LIND(ETHER6611) RSRCNAME(*NWID) NWI(FRT1)
           NWIDLCI(20)5 ADPTADR(020000036759)6 +
           EXCHID(05636759) LINKSPEED(1536000) AUTOCRTCTL(*YES)7 +
           TEXT('DLCI to the 6611 Ethernet LAN')

ADDTCPIFC8 INTNETADR('59.1.2.222') LIND(ETHER6611)

CRTCTLAPPC CTLD(PC5) LINKTYPE(*LAN) SWTLINLST(ETHER6611) +
           RMTNETID(RPC) RMTCPNAME(PC5) ADPTADR(020000043405) +
           TEXT('PC5 on 6611 Ethernet Network')

CRTDEVAPPC DEVD(PC5) RMTLOCNAME(PC5) LCLLOCNAME(SYS320) CTL(PC5) +
           TEXT('PC5 on 6611 Ethernet Network')

CRTCTLAPPC CTLD(PC6) LINKTYPE(*LAN) SWTLINLST(ETHERNET6611) +
           RMTNETID(RPC) RMTCPNAME(PC6) ADPTADR(400000455405) +
           TEXT('PC6 on 6611 Ethernet Network')

CRTDEVAPPC DEVD(PC6) RMTLOCNAME(PC6) LCLLOCNAME(SYS320) CTL(PC6) +
           TEXT('PC6 on 6611 Ethernet Network')
Notes:

  1. You must configure NRZI(*YES) when communicating directly with a 6611 Network Processor without a frame-relay network, such as on a T1 link. You must also configure the 6611 Network Processor to use NRZI.

  2. The INTERFACE and LINESPEED parameters must match the characteristics of the T1 line that you use.

  3. The local management interface (LMI) mode is *FH, which means that the System i model acts as the frame handler and the 6611 Network Processor acts as the terminal equipment (TE). LMI is exchanged on data link connection identifier 0 (DLCI 0).

  4. By creating an Ethernet line (CRTLINETH), you are indicating that the DLCI connects to an Ethernet bridge. The Ethernet bridge carries out RFC 1490 bridging and performs transparent bridging.

  5. The System i model communicates with the 6611 bridge on DLCI 20.

    If the 6611 Network Processor passes TCP/IP data from a frame-relay network to a token-ring or Ethernet network, ensure that the 6611 Network Processor does not filter data for service access point (SAP) AA. You must turn off filtering for SAP AA on both the frame-relay port and the token-ring or Ethernet port.

  6. You must generate an adapter address (ADPTADR) for each line description that you configure for bridging over frame relay. The frame-relay adapter does not have a preset address.

  7. Configure the Automatically Create Controller Description (AUTOCRTCTL) command so that any devices that dial in to the System i model have controller and device descriptions automatically created.

  8. Use the Add TCP/IP Interface (ADDTCPIFC) command to define a new interface to the TCP/IP configuration.

Use this configuration to communicate by using either SNA or TCP/IP data.

 

Parent topic:

Scenarios: Bridged configuration for frame relay