This summer we will be upgrading to Novell Netware 5.1 which will have many new and improved features. This means that all devices on the network have direct access to contact and transmit data to every other device on the network. Imagine an intersection of roads that has no traffic light, no police officer, no stop sign.
Cars can drive any direction, cross whenever they want, and turn without signaling.
This arrangement is fine if it is a rural crossing, and the drivers are well-ordered and courteous. But move that intersection to the city, add several lanes to each street, and make it rush hour. Suddenly there are significant traffic issues. While that is not a perfect illustration of network communication and routing, it helps give an idea of our project. But as the number of customers has grown, and the complexity of the kinds of traffic has increased, this setup can no longer keep up, or provide the level of service required.