HEILNER_K@VAXC.STEVENS-TECH.EDU (05/09/88)
I need a sanity check on this one. I was looking at traffic on my HP4971A LAN Analyzer and noticed a situation that seems to contradict the way DECnet routing works. My machine(VAXstation 2000) is in area 5. The machine I attempt to connect to via "set host" is in area 1. It is my understanding that ALL DECnet packets carrying user data i.e. NSP connect information, get routed on the Ethernet in the following manor. First, my VAXstation(end node) sends the packet to its designated router(assume the end node has not cached any addresses). Second, the designated router forwards the packet to the area router in my area. Third, the area router forwards the packet to the to the destination area router. Fourth, the destination area router forwards the packet to the destination host. All well and good. That is not what seems to be happening. My VAXstation is talking directly with the target host in the other area. According to my analyzer, when I "set host" the Ethernet destination is the target and not the designated router. The packet is not even going through the area router. But, looking at the return traffic from the destination back to the source, all the packets are following the predefined route as mentioned above. Upon further investigation I have found that other nodes in my area are communicating the same way i.e. direct communication into the other area while the return traffic follows the predefined rules for Ethernet/DECnet routing. I called Colorado and they think I should spend more time away from the office. Users do not see any problems, and I would not have known about this without my HP. If I've missed something, please rescue me from my ignorance. Anyone have any ideas....? Keith Heilner Stevens Institute of Technology Heilner_k@sitvxb Heilner_k@vaxb.stevens-tech.edu ------------