[HECnet] Stupid question about areas...

[Paul_Koning at Dell.com]

On Oct 10, 2013, at 12:39 PM, Hans Vlems <hvlems at zonnet.nl> wrote:

Bridges create an extended LAN and DECnet areas may use the entire LAN, all segments that are not behind a DECnet router. 
The LAN doesn't have to be just ethernet. As long as bridges are used to connect ethernet to FDDI, or ATM or token ring then DECnet areas can easily be used across that network.

Mostly yes.   When mixing LAN types, the differences in max packet size can make trouble.   The simplest answer is to use the Ethernet limit.

Also, token ring is not compatible with real LANs because it doesn't use real multicast. (Well, it could in theory, but IBM insisted on being incompatible.)   There's a DECnet variant that copes with this, but regular Phase IV will not work over token ring.   Any real LAN, including oddballs like token bus (802.4) will be fine.

	paul