Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ncis.llnl.gov!helios.ee.lbl.gov!nosc!ucsd!rutgers!bpa!drexel!jeff
From: jeff@drexel.UUCP (Jeff White)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk
Subject: Re: Re-assigning node numbers?
Summary: Only when needed
Keywords: appletalk node numbers.. re-assigning with reseting the machine?
Message-ID: <872@drexel.UUCP>
Date: 22 Jan 89 00:00:20 GMT
References: <245@rpi.edu>
Organization: Drexel University, Phila., Pa.
Lines: 26

In article <245@rpi.edu>, scanner@pawl.rpi.edu (Eric "Scanner" Luce) writes:
> Is it at all possible for a Mac Plus to change its appletalk node 
> number WHILE the machine is turned on? (ie: no reset, no reboot,
> no power off?)
> 
> Or, what would happen if a Mac was temporarily disconnected from
> the LocalTalk and then re-connected? Would it retain it's old node
> number? What if someone else claimed a node number when the mac
> was disconnected?


   My impression was that each time the Mac was on Appletalk (either powered
on to an already connected network, or when the AppleTalk was turned on in
the Chooser), it sent out a broadcast message announcing it on the net with
it's number.  I assume the first time it connected, that number might be 
random.  If there was another station with that number, this Mac would
hear a response and be forced to choose another number.  This would go on
until a unique id was found.  That number would then be saved in the PRAM.
The next time the Mac was turned on, this number would be tried first.  In
most cases, the network doesn't change, so there shouldn't be any conflict, and
the time wasted by trial and error is eliminated.  If a new station is added, 
then the process is just gone through again.

						Jeff White
						Drexel University - ECE Dept.
						rutgers!bpa!drexel!jeff