Patent attributes
A network configuration (10) including a first network medium which is a 1394 network as well as a second network medium. Each of the first and second network media is coupled to a corresponding plurality of host computers (H1 through H3 and H5 through H7). The network configuration further includes a link layer gateway computer (H4) coupled to both the first network medium and the second network medium. The link layer gateway computer is operable to communicate a data packet from a source host computer selected from one of the plurality of host computers coupled to the first network medium to a destination host computer selected from one of the plurality of host computers coupled to the second network medium. Additionally, the link layer gateway computer is operable to communicate a data packet from a source host computer selected from one of the plurality of host computers coupled to the second network medium to a destination host computer selected from one of the plurality of host computers coupled to the first network medium