Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 12:05:14 -0600 From: Danny MacMillan <flowers@users.sourceforge.net> To: epilogue <epilogue@allstream.net> Cc: 'freebsder' <freebsder51@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: Freebsd 5.1 <-> Win XP Networking problems Message-ID: <20040715180514.GB1473@procyon.nekulturny.org> In-Reply-To: <20040714232113.6bfba8e8@localhost> References: <20040713200422.36735.qmail@web52502.mail.yahoo.com> <001001c46920$f347b790$152a15ac@spud> <20040714094104.GA71531@happy-idiot-talk.infracaninophile.co.uk> <20040714224010.GA1520@procyon.nekulturny.org> <20040714230638.0667d90c@localhost> <20040714232113.6bfba8e8@localhost>
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On Wed, Jul 14, 2004 at 09:21:13PM -0600, epilogue wrote: > > On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 23:06:38 -0400 > epilogue <epilogue@allstream.net> wrote: > > > On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 16:40:10 -0600 > > Danny MacMillan <flowers@users.sourceforge.net> wrote: > > > > > Is it the subnet mask that lets my computer know that for an IP > > > address located external to my network it should send the packet > > > to the router (using the router's MAC address) instead of arp- > > > ing for the MAC address of the target node? > > > > hello danny, > > > > i'm only going to speak to the part immediately above... > > > > kind of yes, but mostly no. > > er, how about we forget that i said 'kind of yes, but mostly no' > and go with 'yes, for machines off your network'? i don't know > how that slipped in there. ;) Thanks for your answer. I'm glad you clarified that, 'cause I was confused. :) I'm pretty sure I understand subnet masks. The information I was looking for was how my machine determines which MAC address to put on the ethernet packet when sending to a machine off my network. First it has to know the machine is off my network, and the network address (as determined by the IP address ANDed with the subnet mask) is the only way I can figure that would tell my computer that. In fact, if I understand correctly, that is the raison d'etre of subnet masks. But nothing I read about subnet masks comes out and says that directly. Anyway, I'll keep looking. Someone recommended a networking book on another thread that is probably worth investing in since I am apparently so interested in these mechanics. :) -- Danny MacMillan
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