IPX basic question

[lifebook567]

"In IPX, the serial interfaces will have host address part equivalent to the MAC address of the lowest-numbered Ethernet interface" What if there is more than one serial port? Will they have the same host address part as they use the same MAC address from the lowest-number Ethernet? When they are all online, will they conflict with each other and conflict the Ethernet port that they are using the MAC address part from?

[Richard Burts]

If there is more than one serial interface then yes each serial interface will use the same host address which is taken from the Ethernet. They will not conflict because they are distinguished by the network address and the network address for each will be unique.

As a side note it is possible to have two devices with the same MAC address. It is not a problem as long as they are not on the same segment. Simmilarly the IPX host address does not have to be globally unique but must be unique on its local segment.

HTH

Rick