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From: jbvb@FTP.COM ("James B. Van Bokkelen")
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc
Subject: Re: Clarkson's IBMTOKEN packet driver
Message-ID: <9103271605.AA20493@ftp.com>
Date: 27 Mar 91 16:05:19 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: jbvb@ftp.com
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 24


    Does this packet driver work with other token ring cards (Proteon) or
    are other token ring packet drivers available?

The IBMTOKEN packet driver from Clarkson presents a Class 1 (DIX Ethernet)
interface to the world, and contains code which re-formats IP and ARP
packets to suit the RFC 1042 encapsulation used on 802.5.  It should
be able to talk IP and ARP with other 802.5 hosts pretty well, but don't
expect it to know how to re-format other protocols.  It also has a cache
for RIF information, which is needed to work through IBM source-routing
ring bridges.  It is this cache which can come into conflict with ARP
cache timeouts and size in the Ethernet protocol stack, which is why
we don't support its use with PC/TCP.

The only Class 3 (native 802.5) Packet Driver I know of is the DIS_PKT.GUP
adapter module we ship with our Packet Driver version of PC/TCP (an
enhancement of the one released as freeware), which allows use of 802.5
NDIS drivers.  It can talk to other things on 802.5 just fine too.  Because
of the almost universal availability of ASI (LAN Support Program) drivers
for 802.5 cards and the nearly complete absence of Class 3 protocol stacks
has left little demand for board-specific packet drivers for 802.5 cards.

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