On 2012-12-29 20:29, Paul_Koning at Dell.com wrote: On Dec 28, 2012, at 4:44 PM, Johnny Billquist wrote: ... Yes, VMS can route packets. Yes, all ethernet interfaces under DECnet phase IV will have the same MAC address. No, VMS have no idea of the concept of a bridge. And if you bridge two ethernet segments together, and VMS sits on both those segments, bad juju happens. Actually, DEC nodes are quite aware of bridging -- DEC after all invented LAN bridging. The thing that you have to get right is that the multiple DECnet phase IV interfaces *must* be on distinct extended LANs. The changed MAC addresses are the reason why. And I still claim that they are not bridging, but routing. They do not ignorantly repeat any packets received on one interface out on other interfaces, which is what a bridge does. I'd happily discuss this further, if you really disagree with me. :-) This changes with Phase V, since that doesn't change the MAC address (if it doesn't have to be Phase IV compatible, that is). Also, unlike Phase IV, Phase V supports end nodes with more than one interface. Right. Phase V is a different story again. And I assume you mean endnodes with more than one active interface, as phase IV endnodes can also have more than one interface, but only one can be active. Johnny