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From: mandel@vax.anes.tulane.edu (Jeff E Mandel MD MS)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk
Subject: Re: Multiport Localtalk Router
Message-ID: <7721@rex.cs.tulane.edu>
Date: 2 Jun 91 05:35:06 GMT
References: <1991Jun2.034936.8213@starnet.com>
Sender: news@rex.cs.tulane.edu
Reply-To: mandel@vax.anes.tulane.edu
Organization: Tulane University School of Medicine
Lines: 27

In article <1991Jun2.034936.8213@starnet.com>, schoch@starnet.com (Steven Schoch) writes:
>This is not exactly what you asked for, but it will keep local traffic local.
>StarNet Communications sells a localtalk bridge called the StarBridge.
>The current model has only four localtalk ports but future products will
>have twelve ports plus an Ethernet.
>
>This product is not a repeater or a router but a ALAP level bridge that only
>forwards packets to a network if the destination node is on that network.

As a bridge, it thus would be unable to separate the localtalk ports into
separate zones, I presume? Also, you neglected to mention the price.

My problem is I have a bunch of small departmental nets (say, 3 Macs and a
LaserWriter) that I'd like to interconnect, yet keep each department as a zone
unto itself so everyone can keep their LaserWriter named "LaserWriter" (what,
your name's not Bruce? That'll cause some confusion, mate). I just can't
justify the expense of a FastPath/GatorBox/etc. in these environments, and they
generally are too unreliable for a software solution like Liason, as there is
no one to provide support services and the router machine goes down and
everyone starts screaming. Any ideas?


Jeff E Mandel MD MS
Asst. Professor of Anesthesiology
Tulane University School of Medicine
New Orleans, LA
mandel@vax.anes.tulane.edu