[ale] OT: netmask 255.255.255.255 and windows XP

[Stephan Uphoff]

Hi,

I recently switched ISPs and I am in the process of reconfiguring
my home networks.

Since I have only a limited number of routeable IPs - but multiple
networks I use a netmask of 255.255.255.255 and add manual routing
entries to use the physical networks as point to point links.
(Multiple networks needed for additional firewalls and to
 implement ipsec encrypted gre tunnels to the wireless laptops)

This works fine with Linux and FreeBSD - but not with XP.

XP seems to want a netmask with at least three bits set to zero.

Fortunately the XP computer connects with a crossover cable to
its own linux router/firewall.
I could just assign it a usable netmask and use proxy-arp tricks and 
block broadcasts with iptables.

However I dislike proxy-arping and hope that someone on the list
knows how to configure XP for a point to point Ethernet link.
( Without using pppoe :-)

	Stephan