Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!olivea!mintaka!bloom-beacon!vaxeline!jbvb
From: jbvb@vaxeline.COM (James Van Bokkelen)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: LAN Manager Server syncs?
Summary: It isn't just LAN Manager that synchs up - all broadcast protocols do.
Message-ID: <1225@vaxeline.COM>
Date: 6 Nov 90 22:00:44 GMT
References: <38470005@hpindwa.cup.hp.com>
Organization: FTP Software Inc., Wakefield, MA
Lines: 23

In article <38470005@hpindwa.cup.hp.com>, raj@hpindwa.cup.hp.com (Rick Jones) writes:
> 
> I am told that the periodic server name broadcasts of LAN Manager RFC
> NetBIOS will tend to sync-up over time....

Experimental evidence suggests that *all* protocols that involve a periodic
broadcast from each of many hosts tend to synch-up over time.  The moment
two hosts collide, they stay in synch, and the subsequent collisions increase
the probability that others will fall into step.

> ... Aparently, if one server sees
> a name packet from another server, it will immediately send-out its
> name, and reset its name-send timer.

If this is the case, the protocol will synch-up much faster than it
would if it were better-designed (e.g. RWHO, which doesn't have any
such 'reset timer' logic).  The problem isn't RFC NETBIOS, which
doesn't have any periodic broadcasts at all.  Instead, it is LANMAN's
server-location logic which would appear to need improvement...

-- 
James B. VanBokkelen		26 Princess St., Wakefield, MA  01880
FTP Software Inc.		voice: (617) 246-0900  fax: (617) 246-0901