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Conference netcad::hub_mgnt

Title:DEChub/HUBwatch/PROBEwatch CONFERENCE
Notice:Firmware -2, Doc -3, Power -4, HW kits -5, firm load -6&7
Moderator:NETCAD::COLELLADT
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:4455
Total number of notes:16761

2973.0. "Balance Netware Loadable Module" by TROOA::LEONG () Mon Nov 13 1995 20:39

I have a customer asking if our DECswitch 900EF/EE supports Balance Netware 
Loadable Module from NSI for 2 to 6 connections. Apparently, BNLM allows 
six ethernet connections to be grouped together as a single segment 
providing 60 Mbps pipe.

If we don't support it, is there any other way to do this with our 
switches?

Any ideas are appreciated.
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2973.1STRWRS::KOCH_PIt never hurts to ask...Tue Nov 14 1995 01:375
    
    Why not just sell them an FDDI card and connect the system to the
    front of a DECswitch 900EF? This way they get a 100Mbps connection
    which probably run at least 2 or maybe 3 times faster than an Ethernet
    in a collision domain?
2973.2Balance implies a juggling act.... :-)NETCAD::BATTERSBYTue Nov 14 1995 12:196
    I've heard before the reference to Netware Loadable Modules, but
    I haven't heard the word Balance used in the context. What is a 
    Balance Netware Loadable Module?
    ^^^^^^^
    
    Bob
2973.3Details on BNLMTROOA::LEONGWed Nov 15 1995 18:0418
>    I've heard before the reference to Netware Loadable Modules, but
>    I haven't heard the word Balance used in the context. What is a 
>    Balance Netware Loadable Module?

	According to our VAR, Balance NLM allows a Netware Server to be 
	equipped with 2 or more Ethernet NICs and these will be connected 
	to a switch (like from BAY, SMC). Thes switch will treat these as a
	single link. The switch will look at the available links and put 
	packets on the link that is least loaded.

	The intent is to enable people with Netware servers to easily (and 
	inexpensively) add extra network capacity for a server. The BNLM 
	software comes from NSI. 

	From what I have been told, it is not that rare. It also happens to 
	to be a mandatory requirement of a $8 million RFP.

	I take it then, that our switches don't support it.
2973.4does each NIC have itstheir own mac addressNETCAD::BATTERSBYWed Nov 15 1995 19:356
    Does each NIC have it's own mac address? If so then we do have a
    solution based on the DECswitch 900EF. If each NIC does have it's own
    discrete MAC address then there are no loops, and each Ethernet link
    would then be fully utilized.
    
    Bob
2973.5Load balancing?TROOA::LEONGWed Nov 15 1995 20:014
I don't think the mac address is the issue - the possibility of doing load 
balancing by the switch is.

2973.6Something exists as a possible solution....NETCAD::BATTERSBYThu Nov 16 1995 12:067
    Ok good, then I'm told that there is room for more talk here, 
    as we have a custom image that can be loaded to the DECswitch 900EF
    and the switch is sold by an OEM as part of a package to do load
    balancing. I'll contact you off-line and include some others here
    in LKG in the dialogue.
    
    Bob
2973.7Thanks a lotTROOA::LEONGThu Nov 16 1995 12:251
2973.8It worksTROOA::LEONGFri Nov 17 1995 18:404
I finally located NSI and they confirmed that the Digital switches work 
with Balance NLM. No issues.