Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!mailrus!purdue!decwrl!nac.dec.com!mitton
From: mitton@nac.dec.com (Dave Mitton)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: RE: DEC LAN Bridge's learning the broadcast address
Message-ID: <8810312247.AA17706@decwrl.dec.com>
Date: 1 Nov 88 01:44:00 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 17


	There has been recent discussions about the consequences and
possible causes of DEC LAN Bridges seeing packets with a source address
of all FF's (ie: Broadcast).  I asked around and determined the following:

	This is a known bug in the V2.0 DEBET microcode.  It has been
fixed in the V2.1 microcode ROMs.  Currently, Field Service has not completed
an FCO kit, but customers can request an upgrade (free if under service
contract).  If your local FS does not know of the problem, request that
it be escalated to the Area FS office or the Colorado Springs Support Center.

	This problem was found previously and fixed in the V1.0 ROMs, but
managed to become un-fixed in V2.0.  The V2.x microcode contains other fixes
and improvements (including LAN Traffic Monitor support) so it is worthwhile
to upgrade.  The version number can be observed with an RBMS command;
READ BRIDGE CHARACTERISTICS (so I was told).

	Dave Mitton.