Q: Connecting AsanteTalk bridge to a switch or hub

I'm 99% sure this will work fine, but I'm hoping someone will confirm the remaining 1%.

At present my AsanteTalk Ethernet to Localtalk bridge is connected directly to my Airport Extreme Base Station's LAN port. There's nothing else on its LAN port. Appletalk flows happily all throughout my house. I'm expanding my home network and I now need a hub to connect more devices (Ethernet devices that is, not Localtalk).

I believe with Appletalk over Ethernet, Appletalk packets are "packaged" like any other data and a hub won't know the difference. Am I right?

In other words, will the hub (or switch, to be determined) pass Appletalk packets over the wired LAN?

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Posted on Jan 24, 2009 5:30 PM

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Q: Connecting AsanteTalk bridge to a switch or hub

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by Grant Bennet-Alder,

Grant Bennet-Alder Jan 26, 2009 9:23 AM in response to John Galt
Level 9 (61,385 points)

Desktops

Jan 26, 2009 9:23 AM in response to John Galt

will the hub (or switch, to be determined) pass Appletalk packets over the wired LAN?

Major brands of switches will pass AppleTalk packets without issue. lesser-known brands with no commitment to Apple are hit and miss. Wireless switches are less likely to pass Appletalk packets happily, but major brands still do.

Don't buy a Hub today. Switches are far superior and cost no more.
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by John Galt,

John Galt Jan 26, 2009 4:49 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
Level 9 (50,389 points)

Mac OS X

Jan 26, 2009 4:49 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Don't buy a Hub today. Switches are far superior and cost no more.

Agreed. I can't even find a hub for sale on Amazon.

I'm thinking of this d-link switch. Although its specifications don't say anything about Appletalk support, I found this ancient thread that seems to indicate that d-link products might support Appletalk: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=730365&tstart=530

Of course it also mentions Linksys I have one of their access points and I'm not impressed with it (soon to be the subject of another thread).
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by John Galt,

John Galt Feb 10, 2009 4:32 AM in response to John Galt
Level 9 (50,389 points)

Mac OS X

Feb 10, 2009 4:32 AM in response to John Galt

The D-Link switch passes Appletalk packets just fine.
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Q: Connecting AsanteTalk bridge to a switch or hub

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by Grant Bennet-Alder,

by John Galt,

by John Galt,

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