Conference netcad::hub_mgnt

726.0. "DB900 Protocol Address Filtering ???" by SIOG::SMITH () Mon Feb 14 1994 06:40

    The address filtering in any bridge is done at the MAC layer. 
    Can I now, or will I ever be able to filter on Protocol address field ????
    For this functionality I would usually install a router, but seeing
    that the differences between bridge and router technology are getting
    harder to distinguish, can I assume that future versions of the
    DECbridge 900 will support filetring on the protocol address, and if so
    when ??. 
    If I use a Vitalink, I can set up masks, based on bit position within the
    protocol field which could be the address, so that's one way to use a
    bridge to give this level of filtering but it's difficult to set up
    and manage.  
    
    	Jim   
                                          

    The bridge does support protocol filtering. There will not be filtering
    based on a bit mask in an arbitrary offset in the packet.
    
    Bruce

    If by "Protocol address field" you mean things like IP and DECnet
    addresses, while the bridge does not look into the network layer
    header (other than for IP fragmentation purposes), HUBwatch does allow
    you to specify DECnet and IP addresses.  It translates these
    to MAC addresses using the appropriate algorithm and sets filters on
    them on the bridge.
    
    Anil