[42] in Resnet-Forum
Re: secure hubs in dorms
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Tom Coppeto)
Mon Nov 8 11:48:49 1993
To: lumm@spot.CC.Lehigh.EDU
Cc: resnet-forum@MIT.EDU
In-Reply-To: Your message of Mon, 08 Nov 93 10:32:54 -0500.
Date: Mon, 08 Nov 93 11:29:27 GMT
From: Tom Coppeto <tom@MIT.EDU>
I'm concerned but there just wasn't a product we considered that supported
such a scrambling feature in a manner that scaled. If you guys are
interested, I can talk more about our repeater evaluation process.
Out of the products we evaluated HP was the only one who did data
scrambling. They claimed not only to scramble data through ports when the
destination address didn't match what is "registered", but also that the
repeater learned over time what is where (like a bridge) and coped
appropriately when things moved around. I haven't seen this in action but
it sounds like the right thing to avoid a management nightmare, especially
if you're willing to give on the small gaps where things pass unscrambled.
One problem with this implementation, and related address tracking
operations, is that there is a 1 machine per port assumption. The multiport
tranceiver scenario just wouldn't work.
We ended up purchasing Asante repeaters for the dorms and new on campus
installations and we'll probably be pursuing the security functions with
them (whatever you get, buy repeaters that you can update via tftp).
I'm interested in hearing from any of you who purchase repeaters from
Asante.
- Tom
