> -----Original Message----- > From: Fred Baker [mailto:[email protected]]
> Gee, in a layer 3 context, I use the term "LAN" to mean a > "Local Area > Network", a layer 2 domain, perhaps instantiated in a switch > or a set > of them, that connects some number of layer 3 devices. Examples > include Ethernet domains, 802.11, 802.15.4, 802.16, 802.21, ... > > How does the IEEE define a LAN? > > I take your point that some of these probably should be > translated to > "IP Subnet". IEEE 802.1D says that a LAN ties together devices with MAC layers. So, for example, an Ethernet LAN in which (layer 1) hubs interconnect the hosts will support multiple hosts in a single LAN. But if you introduce bridges (aka layer 2 switches), then you're tying together separate individual LANs into a "bridged LAN," or catenet. Clause 6 of 802.1D: "MAC Bridges interconnect the separate IEEE 802 LANs that compose a Bridged Local Area Network by relaying and filtering frames between the separate MACs of the bridged LANs." So in today's typical networks, the LAN becomes just a single link between one host and one switch. Seemed odd to me too, but Rich Seifert caught me on this more than once. What you were adressing, though, seemed to be IP subnets, i.e. networks having common IP address prefixes. I guess that the "IP subnet" term doesn't apply to IPv6. Bert -------------------------------------------------------------------- IETF IPv6 working group mailing list [email protected] Administrative Requests: https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ipv6 --------------------------------------------------------------------
