Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!mcvax!cernvax!jmg
From: jmg@cernvax.UUCP (jmg)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: DEC LAN Bridge's learning the broadcast address
Keywords: snafus
Message-ID: <865@cernvax.UUCP>
Date: 3 Nov 88 07:55:36 GMT
References: <8810312247.AA17706@decwrl.dec.com>
Reply-To: jmg@cernvax.UUCP ()
Organization: CERN European Laboratory for Particle Physics, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Lines: 32

In article <8810312247.AA17706@decwrl.dec.com> mitton@nac.dec.com (Dave Mitton) writes:
>	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).

This is the first time that I have seen any DEC admission of this fault
(sorry, feature) in LAN Bridges. We discovered it ourselves long ago
(months), after which we learned that DEC knew about it. How many hours
have been wasted by DEC customers finding this problem themselves I do not
care to think!

Perhaps Mr Mitton would care to comment on the other changes in the V2.1
ROMs which fix problems in ALL previous versions. They concern use of
RBMS to constrain operation of the minimal spanning tree algorith by
setting line/bridge costs. Anyone who has tried this in configurations
involving redundant paths (for backup) will know what I mean.

We have yet another LAN Bridge problem, but I will not confuse the situation
by putting it into this posting.
-- 
 _ _  o |             __                    |    jmg@cernvax.uucp
| | |   |     _      /  \  _   __  _   __  _|    jmg@cernvax.bitnet
| | | | |_)  /_)     |  __/_) | (___\ | (_/ |  J. M. Gerard, Div. DD, CERN,
| | |_|_| \_/\___    \__/ \___|   (_|_|   \_|_ 1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland