Overview of Solaris PPP

PPP enables you to connect computers and networks at separate physical locations by using modems and telephone lines. With PPP, users with computers at home or in remote offices can connect to your site's network. You can also use the combination of PPP software, a modem, and telephone lines as a router connecting networks in different places. PPP offers strategies for configuring these machines and networks, which are introduced in this chapter.

Solaris PPP Specifications

Solaris PPP is an asynchronous implementation of the standard data-link level Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) included in the TCP/IP protocol suite and provided by a number of router system vendors and terminal concentrators. It includes a standard encapsulation protocol, making datagram transmission transparent to network layer protocols.

The major characteristics of the Solaris PPP protocol are:

• Implements the Internet Point-to-Point Protocol, as defined in RFC 1331

• Provides error detection through CRC

• Supports full duplex transmission

The major functions of the protocol are:

• Interface for IP to forward packets over asynchronous serial lines

• Connection establishment on demand

• Configurable options negotiation

• Connection termination (automatic hang-up)

Transmission Facilities Used by PPP

PPP supports interfaces to RS-232-C (V.24) facilities through the CPU serial ports included on most machines running the Solaris software. In addition, PPP runs over optional asynchronous serial ports supplied or supported by many manufacturers of machines that run the Solaris software. PPP supports the maximum data rates that your machine's serial ports can achieve. Consult the manufacturer of your computer system for more details on the speeds supported by your machine's serial hardware.

Machines of the x86 architecture require UARTs that run above a certain speed. See the for details.

Standards Conformance

PPP, and the routing functions in the Solaris software, use industry-standard conventions for performing their tasks. These conventions support:

• Forwarding of IP datagrams

• Reception of packets for forwarding from any IP-compatible networked system

• Delivery of packets to any IP-compatible networked system on local-area network media, such as Ethernet, Token Ring, and FDDI

• Use of standard routing protocols, enabling users to exchange packets with equipment that supports the PPP protocol from many manufacturers