Using the Routing Information Protocol

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Using the Routing Information Protocol

In networks that use only the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol (NWLink), routing information is propagated by using the Routing Information Protocol (RIP). NWLink uses the Routing Information Protocol over IPX (RIPX) to determine the best router to use when forwarding IPX traffic to another IPX network.

RIPX is used to determine the frame type and external network number for each interface that is configured for autodetection. When NWLink loads, it sends out a RIPX request to discover the frame type and external network number. IPX routers (and NetWare servers) respond to the request with packets that use the IPX router frame type and contain the external network number of the local network.

RIPX and routers

When the IPX host determines the IPX network number of the destination, it compares the destination IPX network number with its own attached external network number. If they are different, the IPX host must forward the IPX packet to an IPX router. To determine the best router to use to forward the IPX traffic, the IPX host sends out a RIP request for the destination IPX network number. All IPX routers on the network of the IPX host that have a route to the destination network number send back a response to the IPX host. The IPX host chooses the best response and forwards the IPX packet to the router that sent the best response.

When the Windows Routing and Remote Access service is installed, the computer running Windows acts as a RIP-based IPX router. RIPX is used to listen for route announcements and periodically send route announcements to maintain an IPX routing table.

For more information about routing with Windows, see Checklist: Installing and configuring the router.

Important

  • Client Service for NetWare is not available on 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP.

  • Gateway Service for NetWare is included in Windows 2000 Server. It is not included in the Windows Server 2003 family.

  • Computers running operating systems in the Windows Server 2003 family cannot be IPX routers.