Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!bpa!cbmvax!grr
From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec
Subject: Re: Lan-Bridge vs. 2 Ethernet-Controllers
Message-ID: <8597@cbmvax.UUCP>
Date: 17 Nov 89 03:53:43 GMT
References: <787@unipas.fmi.uni-passau.de>
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 31

In article <787@unipas.fmi.uni-passau.de> gengenba@unipas.fmi.uni-passau.de (Michael Gengenbach) writes:
> Hello,
> 
> we have a problem in deciding about the best ethernet configuration for
> our DECsystem 5810.
> 
>    - When using 1 ethernet-controller for each segment, do they
>      filter the traffic between the segments. Is the CPU needed
>      to do it, or can it be done in the ethernet-cards locally?

The CPU has to be involved and probably has to listen to packets it could
otherwise tell the interface to ignore.  I'd go with the lan-bridge approach.

>    - When using a LAN-bridge can we efficiently serve machines over
>      the bridge?

Probably, but be sure you have lots of memory and/or a local swapping
disk on each of the workstations so you don't put this pointless workload
thru the bridge.

>                 And in this case: Is one DEBNI-ethernet-controller
>      with a speed of 5 MBit/second enough to serve our local machines
>      and the University ones?

This is probably no worse performance than the average ethernet card
so I wouldn't expect unusual difficulties.

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,	uucp: {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing	arpa: cbmvax!grr@uunet.uu.net
Commodore, Engineering Department	fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)