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From: chris@yarra.oz.au (Chris Jankowski)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Do multiport repeaters buffer packets?
Message-ID: <65056@yarra.oz.au>
Date: 27 Aug 90 00:29:09 GMT
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp PL, Melb., Australia
Lines: 28


Most Ethernet and IEEE.802.3 LANs design guidelines recommend use
of multiport repeaters to increase LAN robustness and manageability
of fault finding.
Assume an asymmetrical configuration in the sense that there is
a large server on one segment and a large number of PCs talking to it.
The PCs are distributed among the other ports hanging off the multiport
repeater.
Just consider the following example:
Assume that N-1 PCs each on different Ethernet segment generates a packet
directed to the server at the same time. Even if the server's Ethernet
segment is quiet only one of those packets can be delivered at a time.
What happens with the others? 
Does the N port repeater buffer the remaining frames?
If not (and I believe that store and forward is a function of a bridge)
what other strategy can a multiport repeater use?
Or am I missing something important altogether?

Thanks for your help.

      -m-------   Chris Jankowski - Senior Systems Engineer chris@yarra.oz{.au}
    ---mmm-----   Pyramid Technology Corporation Pty. Ltd.  fax  +61 3 820 0536
  -----mmmmm---   11th Floor, 14 Queens Road                tel. +61 3 820 0711
-------mmmmmmm-   Melbourne, Victoria, 3004       AUSTRALIA       (03) 820 0711

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