Subject: Re: zone question
From: Bill Studenmund (skippy@macro.stanford.edu)
Date: Fri Jun 20 1997 - 15:26:20 EDT
On Fri, 20 Jun 1997, Steve Davidson wrote:
> > 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?
For just an appartment, it is kinda silly. But say you have a company with
a number of macs in different logical groups. Or on different floors.
There, even though you might only have one wire, having multiple zones can
make sense.
Take care,
Bill
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