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From: andre@nrcvax.UUCP (Andre Hut)
Newsgroups: net.lan
Subject: Re: Can ethernet use branched cable?
Message-ID: <521@nrcvax.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 1-Mar-86 18:23:58 EST
Article-I.D.: nrcvax.521
Posted: Sat Mar  1 18:23:58 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 4-Mar-86 01:28:53 EST
References: <2239@phri.UUCP> <454@ubvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: andre@nrcvax.UUCP (Andre Hut)
Organization: Network Research Research Corp.  Oxnard,CA
Lines: 28

In article <454@ubvax.UUCP> skip@ubvax.UUCP (Skip Addison Jr) writes:
>In article <2239@phri.UUCP> roy@phri.UUCP (Roy Smith) writes:
>>        Is there any reason why an ethernet (thin or thick) cable can't be
>>branched?  All the diagrams I see only show linear layouts with taps off
>> ...
>Yes, there is a reason why that won't work, in general.  Just about anything
>can work, as those of the bubble-gum and bailing wire school of thought so
>often discover.  But branching an Ethernet will not work reliably in general.
>
>The reason has to do with transmission line theory, maxwell's equations, or
>the law of parallel resistors :-), depending on your persuasion.  Basically,
>the cable needs to appear to be one continuous length of cable.

Sorry Skip, that is wrong.  The only rule is that there can not be more than
two paths between any two stations.  Each branch must also be terminated.
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