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Conference 7.286::fddi

Title:FDDI - The Next Generation
Moderator:NETCAD::STEFANI
Created:Thu Apr 27 1989
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2259
Total number of notes:8590

264.0. "DS5000 as FDDI/802 bridge" by LARVAE::WILLIAMS_G () Fri May 24 1991 10:09

Hi,

  I'm sure someone out there has already got experience of connecting from 802.3 
to FDDI via a DECstation/system 5000. I need some help to understand what, if 
any, the restrictions are with the following configuration.

       FDDI
	||             A  
    +--------+       +--------+ 802.3 +----+
    | Conc.  |=======| DS5000 |-------| PC |
    +--------+       +--------+       +----+
	||
        ~~
	||             B
    +--------+       +--------+
    | Conc.  |=======| DS5000 |
    +--------+       +--------+
 	||

  I have a couple of questions about the above set up :-

	1)  What is the mechanism that enables the DS5000 to act as a bridge - 
	    is it a feature of hardware, device driver or something like DECnet  
	    for ULTRIX.

	2)  What sort of a load is acting as a bridge going to put on the CPU of 
	    DS5000 A if, for example, the PC wanted to access data on B.

If anyone has any data on this I would be grateful to receive a copy.

Thanks,

	Gary.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
264.1The DS5000 is not a bridge. PeriodMIPSBX::thomasThe Code WarriorFri May 24 1991 10:210
264.2Not a Bridge but surely a 'bridge'LARVAE::WILLIAMS_GFri May 24 1991 11:4610
    
    
    It may not have been designed as a bridge but with an FDDI controller 
    in it and an Ethernet connection then it will enable the 2 networks to 
    be 'bridged', won't it ??? Or so my loacl nets and comms specialist 
    assured me.
    
    Gary.
264.3KONING::KONINGLietuva laisva!Fri May 24 1991 11:528
Nope.

Not unless your source thinks that a router is a type of bridge, in which
case he/she needs to go back to school.

A DS5000 can certainly be a router, but a router is NOT a bridge (nor a Bridge).

	paul
264.4Apologies for incorrect terminologyLARVAE::WILLIAMS_GFri May 24 1991 12:5117
    
    Ok, it seems that the terminology has got confused. If bridge is 
    replaced by router in my original note then how do my original 
    questions stand ?
    
    The final config will involve 10 concentrators, 40 DS5000s and 200 PCs. 
    There will be a lot of data flying around, mainly between the PCs and 
    their 'local' 5000 but also some between PCs and 'remote' 5000s - hence 
    my original questions.
    
    Any help, advice or performance data would be appreciated.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Gary.
264.5Using what protocols?MIPSBX::thomasThe Code WarriorFri May 24 1991 15:411
The only thing the DS5000 can route is IP.  Not DECnet.  Not OSI.
264.6Any times for DECNET ?LARVAE::WILLIAMS_GWed May 29 1991 06:3713
If the DS5000 can't be used as a router with DECNET now, are there any pointers 
as to when it will be able to. I don't understand the problem as to why it will 
work with IP but not DECNET - then again I'm not a nets & comms expert.

Are there any books or papers that would be worth acquiring in order to get some 
idea as to what happens inside the 5000 when used as a router ?

Thanks,

Gary.
264.7MIPSBX::thomasThe Code WarriorWed May 29 1991 12:524
An ULTRIX Intermediate System (Router) implementation is not currently planned.
DECnet-ULTRIX is only an End System (Endnode) implementation.  If you like
to see DECnet-ULTRIX be able to function as an IS, please contact our product
manager, Peri Damon (DELNI::PDAMON) and convince her.
264.8Or use a real productMARVIN::COBBGraham R. Cobb (Wide Area Comms.), REO2-G/H9, 830-3917Thu May 30 1991 10:036
Why not  use a product designed for the purpose? You can get a DECbridge 500
from DEC today which will bridge between ethernet and FDDI.  Also, watch out
for  the  DEC  NIS  600  announcement  next  week (although FDDI will not be
available in the first release).

Graham
264.9QUIVER::WEEKSWed Jun 05 1991 15:306
Gary,

There are performance numbers for the 5000 when running as an IP router. 
Would that be helpful?

Phil
264.10I'd be interested...EISJKC::CYRThu Jun 06 1991 12:1811
I'm working a proposal for the Air Force that will be using DECsystem 5000
routers between FDDI and 3 Ethernet LANs each.  Each Ethernet will be supporting
15-20 imaging stations (DECimage 1200s).  Any information that may help me
calculate maximum supported devices using TCP/IP NFS transfers would be
appreciated.

Reply to NEGD::CYR

Thanks.

Joe