[net.lan] AT&T networking

lee@umich.UUCP (Lee Pearson) (09/20/85)

Can someone describe AT&T's current networking capabilities (on 3B series
hardware)?

What are the compatability issues with respect to Berkeley networking
support on Vax hardware?

Will I need to commit sepaku if my department gets a 3b5 and want it 
integrated into the existing LAN?


	Lee Pearson
	EECS dept., University of Michigan
	{ihnp4, pur-ee, mb2c}!umich!lee  or lee@umich.csnet

usenet@ucbvax.ARPA (USENET News Administration) (09/23/85)

It is my understanding that the AT&T 3B series of computers do not as
yet speak IP/TCP (the ARPANET protocols, which come with 4 BSD).
However, in order to fulfill the requirements of a recently obtained
government contract, they will have to. It was reported that AT&T
contracted with The Wollongong Group (of VMS/Eunice fame) to do the
work.

As to the compatability of the networking hardware they use, I don't
know.  It does not appear (from what I have read here & elsewhere) that
it is compatible with anything other than itself.

	Erik E. Fair	ucbvax!fair	fair@ucbarpa.BERKELEY.EDU

retzner@ihlpg.UUCP (Retzner) (09/23/85)

> As to the compatability of the networking hardware they use, I don't
> know.  It does not appear (from what I have read here & elsewhere) that
> it is compatible with anything other than itself.

The 3BNET hardware is ETHERNET compatible for the 3B2 and 3B5.
The 3B20 should be compatible but I can't say for sure.  The
problem with other hosts/protocols is not with the hardware
but in the kernel driver.

The 3B2 3BNET driver provides an application interface that
allows communicating with other non-3BNET hosts with some limitations.
3BNET reserves a few source addresses and protocol types.

I have currently have a 3B2 running System V Release 2 communicating
with a Intel 82586 and Intel 82501 combination using the 3BNET
application interface.  I was pleasently surprized at how easy it
was to implement the software that uses the application interface.

The 3B5 3BNET driver should have the same capability, but I can not
say for sure.  I am not at all familiar with the 3B20 3BNET interface
so I leave that with no comment.

Just wanted to clear (some of) the air on the compatibility questions.

Bill Retzner
ihlpg!retzner