NetWare TCPIP.NLM does not support CIDR (supernetted or classless) address routing

  • 3570004
  • 17-Oct-2007
  • 27-Apr-2012

Environment


Novell NetWare 6.5
Novell NetWare 6.0
Novell NetWare 5.1

Situation

NetWare's TCPIP.NLM does not support the routing of CIDR (classless, or supernetted) IP addresses or routes. Any attempts to use the NetWare server to route between subnets will fail if the server has even one CIDR address bound to it.

This means that you cannot use supernetting to define network routes in the NetWare LAN static routing table. The supernetted route will be ignored and the packet will be sent to the Default Route.

The NetWare server can have a CIDR IP address bound ONLY if the IP Packet Forwarding setting is set to Disabled ("End Node").

Resolution

If the NetWare server has the IP Packet Forwarding setting set to Enabled ("Router") then all address either bound or listed in the LAN Static Routing Table MUST be classfull. (A, B, C, or D)

Additional Information

A definition of CIDR can be found here:
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/CIDR.htm