Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!rutgers!mailrus!ukma!gatech!linus!mbunix!bwk
From: bwk@mitre-bedford.ARPA (Barry W. Kort)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk
Subject: Re: Fastpath 'halting problem'
Summary: My number 1 suspect is lost Appletalk packets.
Message-ID: <42330@linus.UUCP>
Date: 30 Nov 88 15:09:01 GMT
References: <1474*kenw@noah.arc.cdn>
Sender: news@linus.UUCP
Reply-To: bwk@mbunix (Kort)
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, Bedford, Mass.
Lines: 20

In article <1474*kenw@noah.arc.cdn> kenw@noah.arc.CDN (Ken Wallewein) writes:

> In a variety of different configurations and protocols, interactive sessions
>over Appletalk often exibit rather severe jerkiness;  the session will simply
>'sieze up' for periods up to several seconds.  In fact, I have observed the 
>the entire Mac may freeze durint that time.
>
> Who else has seen this?  Is there some way we can establish the exact cause?

This happens from time to time on our network as well.  I suspect the
problem is due to lost packets on the Appletalk, caused by irregularities
in the Appletalk cabling.  Sometimes I just go around reseating
Appletalk connectors where they have worked loose here and there.

Try deliberately opening the Appletalk cable at the far end.  This
will create echoes and standing waves which disrupt the network.
Then see if the interactive session freezes until you restore
the cable termination.

--Barry Kort