DCAP: Data Link Switching Client Access Protocol
Protocol Description
The Data Link Switching Client Access Protocol (DCAP) is an application layer protocol used between workstations and routers to transport SNA/NetBIOS traffic over TCP sessions.
DCAP was introduced to address a few deficiencies in the Data Link Switching Protocol (DLSw). The implementation of the Data Link Switching Protocol (DLSw) on a large number of workstations raises the important issues of scalability and efficiency. Since DLSw is a switch-to-switch protocol, it is not efficient when implemented on workstations. DCAP addresses these issues. It introduces a hierarchical structure to resolve the scalability problems. All workstations are clients to the router (server) rather than peers to the router. This creates a client/server model. It also provides a more efficient protocol between the workstation (client) and the router (server).
In a DLSw network, each workstation needs a MAC address to communicate with an FEP attached to a LAN. When DLSw is implemented on a workstation, it does not always have a MAC address defined. For example, when a workstation connects to a router through a modem via PPP, it only consists of an IP address. In this case, the user must define a virtual MAC address. This is administratively intensive since each workstation must have a unique MAC address. DCAP uses the Dynamic Address Resolution protocol to solve this problem. The Dynamic Address Resolution protocol permits the server to dynamically assign a MAC address to a client without complex configuration.
The Data Link Switching Client Access Protocol (DCAP) is an application layer protocol used between workstations and routers to transport SNA/NetBIOS traffic over TCP sessions.
DCAP was introduced to address a few deficiencies in the Data Link Switching Protocol (DLSw). The implementation of the Data Link Switching Protocol (DLSw) on a large number of workstations raises the important issues of scalability and efficiency. Since DLSw is a switch-to-switch protocol, it is not efficient when implemented on workstations. DCAP addresses these issues. It introduces a hierarchical structure to resolve the scalability problems. All workstations are clients to the router (server) rather than peers to the router. This creates a client/server model. It also provides a more efficient protocol between the workstation (client) and the router (server).
In a DLSw network, each workstation needs a MAC address to communicate with an FEP attached to a LAN. When DLSw is implemented on a workstation, it does not always have a MAC address defined. For example, when a workstation connects to a router through a modem via PPP, it only consists of an IP address. In this case, the user must define a virtual MAC address. This is administratively intensive since each workstation must have a unique MAC address. DCAP uses the Dynamic Address Resolution protocol to solve this problem. The Dynamic Address Resolution protocol permits the server to dynamically assign a MAC address to a client without complex configuration.
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