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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

1950.0. "Compatibility on FDDI using raw 802.3" by HGOVC::SHUMCF () Thu Feb 08 1996 23:20

    We have a potential customer to purchase Gigaswitch/FDDI, however they
    will use raw 802.3 frame for their Novell. As we know, Digital FDDI
    devices do not support this frame type. Now, the customer will purchase
    3Com FDDI interface for their Novell server and also use 3Com
    FDDI/Ethernet switch for the connection between Gigaswitch/FDDI and the
    workgroup PC. Will the server communicate with the clients through 
    Gigaswitch when running with raw 802.3 frame.
    
    Thanks/regards,
    CF Shum
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1950.1Novell doesn't even recommend using raw 802.3 anymore...NETCAD::BATTERSBYFri Feb 09 1996 09:318
    That's odd, why is the customer doing something (using raw 802.3 frame
    type), that even Novell doesn't recommend anymore? Novell has mentioned
    many times (publicly), that they do not recommend using this frame
    format anymore because of its incompatibility, and interoperability
    problems. Hmmmmm, maybe the customer isn't aware of Novell's 
    current stand on this.
    
    Bob
1950.2NETCAD::STEFANII *CAN* drive 65!Fri Feb 09 1996 11:0420
    >>will use raw 802.3 frame for their Novell. As we know, Digital FDDI
    >>devices do not support this frame type. Now, the customer will purchase
    
    Have you read related Notes 1717, 1400, and 1596 in the RANGER::NETWARE
    conference?  There has already been long diatribes (mostly by me) on
    why the ETHERNET_802.3 frame type is a bad idea in mixed FDDI/Ethernet
    networks.
    
    I believe 3Com uses MAC frames to "encapsulate" the raw 802.3 frames
    from one Ethernet segment to another Ethernet segment across an FDDI
    ring.  I don't have first hand experience with this, however.
    
    Bottom line is that Novell does *NOT* support anything but FDDI_802.2
    and FDDI_SNAP for IPX.  Your goal should be to get standard IPX frames
    on the FDDI ring, any which way you can.  Once that's accomplished
    (either by routing or translation) you can safely connect to FDDI
    servers and clients and also send those frames onto other network
    segments.
    
       - Larry
1950.3NPSS::MDLYONSMichael D. Lyons DTN 226-6943Fri Feb 09 1996 13:357
    P.S. If you read 269.2 in the SCHOOL::GIGASWITCH notes conference,
    you'll find that if you are running the current release of
    GIGAswitch/FDDI firmware, the "raw mode" frames should pass through the
    GIGAswitch/FDDI system successfully regardless of how brain-dead an idea 
    it might be to use them.
    
    MDL