Path: utzoo!yunexus!geac!syntron!jtsv16!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!MCL.UNISYS.COM!jose
From: jose@MCL.UNISYS.COM (Jose Rodriguez)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: is there a need for class A addresses?
Message-ID: <8810241542.AA07439@KAUAI.MCL.UNISYS.COM>
Date: 24 Oct 88 15:42:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: KAUAI.8810241542.AA07439
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
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These few messages on GE's network address has triggered some thoughts
I have been holding since the Annapolis IETF meeting, basicly:

Is there a need for class A addresses?

I can think of two possible uses of such an address:

1) A very large comm subnet - with 2^24 hosts.
(Does such a network exist? Will future telephones be IP hosts?)

2) Subnetting, say used by an organization with 255 class B networks.
(Would such an organization exist? Could the gateways front-ending the 
subnetted network be able to handle the load?)

Your comments on the above will be appreciated.

Jose M. Rodriguez
Unisys McLean R&D