Enhanced address resolution in a multi-LAN Ethernet communications system

Executing a protocol P, a sending host S decides, through P's routing mechanism, that it wants to transmit to a target host T located somewhere on a connected piece of 10 Mbit Ethernet cable which conforms to IEEE 802.3. To actually transmit the Ethernet packet a 48-bit Ethernet/hardware address must be generated. The addresses assigned to hosts within protocol P are not always compatible with the corresponding Ethernet address (being different address space byte orderings or values). A protocol is presented which allows dynamic distribution of the information required to build tables that translate a host's address in protocol P's address space into a 48 bit Ethernet address. An extension is incorporated to allow such a protocol to be flexible enough to exist in a Transparent Bridge, or generic Host. The capability of the Bridge to detect host reboot conditions in a multi-LAN environment is also discussed, emphasising particularly the effect on channel bandwidth. To illustrate the operation of the protocol mechanisms, the ARPA Internet Protocol (IP) is used as a benchmark.6, 8* An introduction to Address Resolution is presented, followed by a discussion of a reboot detection process