3com 2500 User Guide

C

HAPTER

 6: R

OUTING

 

WITH

 IPX

Each router interface has a network address. This address defines the 
network number to which the router interface is attached. The router 
interface’s IPX address serves two functions: 

■

It is used when IPX packets are sent to or from the router. 

■

It defines the network number of the segment that is connected to 
the interface. 

A routing table collects information about all intranetwork segments. This 
table allows a router to send packets toward their destinations over the 
best possible routes. 

The table contains an entry for every network number that the router 
knows about. The router uses this information when the router is not 
directly connected to a packet’s destination network. The routing 
information table provides the address of another router that can forward 
the packet toward its destination.

The routing table consists of the following elements:

■

Interface — The interface number of the router that is used to reach 
a network segment

■

Addresses — The network segments that the router knows about

■

Hops to network — The number of routers that must be crossed to 
reach a network segment

■

Ticks to network — An estimate of the time in seconds necessary to 
reach a network segment

■

Node — The node address of the router that can forward packets to 
each network segment. When this element is set to all 0s, the router is 
directly connected)

■

Aging timer — The time in seconds since the network’s last update