CERN Accelerating science

Abstract

An update of the article published in CNL CERN-CNL-2000-001.

In the first Computer Newsletter of this year we gave an advance warning of the eventual suppression of certain network protocols and allied equipment. Since this time things have evolved, and so a repeat article seems useful.

Concerning old Macintoshes and printers connected onto LocalTalk networks, which are a slow-speed network connecting to the main Ethernet networking via Routers, we have been checking how many are still active. From a high of over 200 a few years ago we are now down to only about 60 FastPath Routers. Furthermore, on many of the LocalTalk segments there are now almost no remaining users, as old Macs and printers are replaced by new ones connecting directly onto Ethernet. We are therefore hereby giving notice that all FastPath Routers will be eliminated by July 1 2001. At that time, any remaining old Macs or printers having only a LocalTalk network interface will need to buy a special LocalTalk-Ethernet converter box. However, we would strongly recommend upgrade of the Mac/printer to a modern one.

The same cutoff date (July 1 2001) will also apply to any use of LAT protocols. See the original article for more information.

Finally, now that NICE servers are moving from use of Novell/IPX protocols to standard IP protocols we will be starting a slow move towards elimination of IPX protocols. The first stage of this will be identification and elimination of most of the broadcast IPX service announcements (of which there are currently over 1000). The main types of systems making such announcements are Windows NT systems and multi-protocol printers, but there are many and varied other announcements for which we may need to consult the particular service managers over the next year or so.