---------- From: Sean M. Doran[SMTP:smd@clock.org] Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 1997 10:21 PM To: nanog@merit.edu Subject: Re: Another UUNET Explanation A clumsy tech or a backhoe takes out a physical path between two POPs, each of which contains several routers that form part of this flat network. What happens now? Layer 2 heals itself, without the knowledge of layer 3. Layer 3 experiences a latency increase between certain paths. Sorry, had to do it. *duck* However, I agree wholeheartedly. If I had a Layer 2 protocol designed solely for the transport of a protocol to end all protocols, perhaps I would choose to use it, however, in this fast paced industry, will we ever have the "perfect" protocol (okay, ever is a big word). I suspect that as long as there is some value in making the "network" do something it wasn't originally designed to do, someone will hack a way to do it, and rake in some money. That money will draw other people to into either parroting the pioneer, or hacking thier own way, or perhaps denouncing the hack as un-pure. It's a never-ending circle, hacker, parrot, purist? Rwaaah, Cracker wants a Polly! (polly always gets the cracker) Chris A. Icide Nap.Net, L.L.C.