AppleTalk Frequently Asked Questions

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Please send any questions to Chris Prall

  1. Q) How are zones named?
    A) The ad hoc convention for UofW EtherTalk zone names is to define the default zone in any IP subnet xxx.yyy.zzz as "ENetxxx.yyy.zzz" , then add any desired name(s). This allows people who are in the subnet but not part of your group to have a generic identifiable zone.
    Example for subnet 128.95.115 :
    ENet128.95.115
    Pharmaceutics
    Pharmacy

  2. Q) Can different nets have the same zone name?
    A) Yes, and it's often helpful to have a single zone name for a group that is in different locations.
    If you require different zone names for a single group, it helps to keep the names alphabetically together so they are consecutive in the chooser.

  3. Q) Can different networks have the same number?
    A) No. Avoid at all costs.

  4. Q) Is there a procedure for allocating names and numbers so I don't bump into anyone else?
    A) There is no formality to UofW AppleTalk net numbers (except to check ahead in the database to avoid conflict), so the game is to solve the "riddle" of picking an obscure number that no one else has picked, or be the first one with a simple number in hopes that no network that will ever route to the UW network has the same number....
    If you are routing to other nets that are related to the one you are creating, it's logical to extend the numbers your group is already using.

  5. Q) I have three zone names in a network, do I need a net range of 3?
    A) No, you can have many zone names in a single net number (eg 47572-47572 has three names).
    An AppleTalk net number can have 254 AppleTalk devices (Mac's, printers, etc.).
    You use a larger range if you anticipate more devices; thus a range of 2 (eg 47572-47573) could have 508 AppleTalk devices.
    Note: don't confuse AppleTalk devices with IP's. At the UW, it is seldom that a range will need to be more than a single net number.

  6. Q) What should I do when adding a router?
    A) *

  7. Q) How should I organize a tunnel?
    A) *

  8. Q) Should I use soft seed or hard seed?
    A) *

  9. Q) How should I setup network filtering?
    A) *

    * answer is forthcoming... :) or help me out... If you need to know, e-mail me and I'll compose an answer for this FAQ.