Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 11:56:26 -0400 From: dennis@etinc.com (dennis) To: Joao Carlos Mendes Luis <jonny@gaia.coppe.ufrj.br> Cc: hackers@freebsd.org Subject: Re: IPX? Message-ID: <199607211556.LAA02857@etinc.com>
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>#define quoting(John Hay) >// > // > I'd really like to be able to gateway TCP/IP to IPX/SPX... >// > // >// > // Ouch. IPX is such a mess I don't think I'd want to touch it, much less >// > // try to gateway a superior protocol (TCP) to it. >// > >// > Do you mean that FreeBSD's IPX implementation is a mess or that IPX >// > protocol stack is a mess ? >// > >// > Hope you mean the first (I feel this too), because IPX is a datagram >// > protocol just as bad as IP in definition. >// >// What except for the one host address don't you like? I would really like >// to know. I plan to do some more work on IPX as soon as I can get the >// SDL RISCom device drivers finished. > >// John Hay -- John.Hay@mikom.csir.co.za > > The one host problem is the first to come to my mind. I'd like also to >play with other frame encapsulations like 802.3 and 802.2, but this would >be just for amusement. I know there's something else, but I can't remem- >ber what is it. My production machines run 2.1 which doesn't have IPX, >and my desktop machine doesn't boot 2.2 (don't know why). This test has >been done on a temporary basis. > > If I remember the problem or find anything else I'll send it to you, >privately. The biggest deal is IPXWAN, which is a pain in the butt, and perhaps IPXCP for PPP. If you're connecting 2 FreeBSD boxes, you can get around the IPXWAN (cause you dont really need it), but you need it to be interoperable with real Netware routers. We had it working at one point, but haven't maintained it in a while. Our local IPX works nicely, so it shouldnt be a big deal. The question is do we integrate it with our own stuff (which is nice 'cause there's no extra charge), The freebsd stuff, which I really haven't seen but is clearly not complete, or Netcon's server, which would have the most commercial value but isnt free. I'd really love to use FreeBSDs, but I can't go to 2.2 (does it work with 2.1.5?) and our local routing is so lightning fast (it bypasses the traditional "protocol stack" with local caching and an internal routing table) I'd hate to suffer speed-wise (as we use it ourselves). Hmm, now that we've developed an activation mechanism, maybe we can make it a stand-alone add-on? Too much to think about on a Sunday :-) Dennis ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Emerging Technologies, Inc. http://www.etinc.com Synchronous PC Cards and Routers For Discriminating Tastes. 56k to T1 and beyond. Frame Relay, PPP, HDLC, and X.25 for BSD/OS, FreeBSD and LINUX.
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