For packets to travel between two IPX network segments separated by a WAN, there must be a connection between the two routers representing each segment. This connection is represented by the WAN call destination , a unique name that identifies the router on the other end of the connection.
A WAN connection can be initiated by any of the following methods:
Automatic ---Established between the local router and the call destination when IPX is bound to a WAN port. Automatic connections are established typically at router startup.
Manual ---Established between the local router and the call destination by a user from the Call Manager utility (CALLMGR).
Data-initiated ---Established when the local router needs to send data to the (remote) router represented by the WAN call destination. This connection method is characteristic of on-demand calls, which are described in the following section.
After a WAN connection is established, the routers use the IPXWAN protocol to negotiate the values or states of various connection characteristics, such as speed, throughput, routing type, and IPX header compression. These and other characteristics are negotiated before the routers exchange any routing information or data.
For more information about IPX operation over WAN links, refer to