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Re: AppleTalk strangeness
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Re: AppleTalk strangeness

At a client site we are zoning AppleTalk using AUR. Initially this
functioned perfectly. Since replacing the old switch with a Netgear model a
few months ago, each Mac shows the Your AppleTalk network is now available9
at startup, shortly after reaching the desktop. This (seemingly) did not
interfere with logging onto the ASIP server over IP on startup.

--- This has the classic symptoms that plague many folks when they change to new network Switch hardware. I only know about cisco switches, but I suspect that there's similar issues with others.

As the computer first boots up, it tries to establish a link with the Switch. Before enabling the port, the Switch makes sure there are no loops in the network (which would cause havoc). It's called Spanning Tree Protocol. The Switch delays activation until it can complete the test, which takes many seconds. Fast new computers are often ready to use the network before the switch has completed its test. This causes the computer to get weird because it expects the network to be available. Eventually the Switch completes its Spanning-tree tests and enables the port. That's when the Mac tells you "Your AppleTalk network is now available".

On Cisco switches there is a command to make the port available as soon as the computer boots up. It should be used judiciously because it puts your network at risk (if you DO have a loop). The Cisco command is "SET SPANTREE PORTFAST port# ENABLE". Hopefully your Netgear Switch has such a feature.
--
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Gary W. Zuker
Computer Specialist
Department of Psychology
University of Texas at Austin
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