Re: zone question


Subject: Re: zone question
From: Steve Davidson (davidson@ll.mit.edu)
Date: Fri Jun 20 1997 - 11:32:19 EDT


> >as far as I know, you cant define a zone on one network interface only!
>
> does this mean that i can't setup a zone in my apartment with just one
> ethernet card in my linux box? i figured that to have two zones i would
> need two linux boxes but i already have that. this is most distressing.

I no longer have a copy of the "AppleTalk Network System Overview" or I
would provide you with a direct quote. I will, however, paraphrase:

       An AppleTalk zone is a logical grouping of AppleTalk
       networks in an inter-network configuration. An AppleTalk
       network maps into a segment or wire. An inter-network is
       two or more AppleTalk networks (combinations of EtherTalk,
       LocalTalk, and/or TokenTalk) that interact through an
       AppleTalk router.

One wire? Zones are irrelevant. Two wires? If they are connected via a
routing device, then Zones _*can*_ be defined (but why?). Since netatalk
does not _*route*_ AppleTalk (unless Wes has performed some magic without
telling us), two interfaces on two different nets does not an AppleTalk
inter-network make.

Even so, the reason to define zones is to simplify the grouping of network
resources for the user (as they appear in the Chooser) -- and to reduce
broadcast traffic -- on a large diverse inter-networked LAN. Other than
for the purpose of experimentation, can there be any reason for subdividing
an apartment LAN into zones?

===============================================================
     Dr. Steven A. Davidson davidson@ll.mit.edu
     MIT Lincoln Laboratory
     244 Wood Street (617) 981-3901 - Office
     Lexington, MA 02173-9108 (617) 981-6339 - Fax
===============================================================
  Comments expressed in this message are strictly my own and
 are not to be construed as statements endorsed by my employer
===============================================================



This archive was generated by hypermail 2b28 : Sat Dec 18 1999 - 16:25:04 EST