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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
     Our audits included the financial statement schedule of Bay Networks, Inc.
listed in Item 14(a). This schedule is the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. We
did not audit the financial statements of Wellfleet Communications, Inc., which
statements reflect net income constituting approximately 51% of the related 1994
consolidated financial statement total. We have been furnished with the report
of other auditors with respect to the financial statement schedule of Wellfleet
Communications, Inc. In our opinion, based on our audits, and for 1994 the
report of other auditors, the financial statement schedule referred to above,
when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken
as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects the information set forth
therein.
 
     We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements (Form S-8 Nos. 33-42297, 33-85460, 33-85462, 33-85464, 33-85466,
33-92736 and 33-80897) of our report dated July 19, 1996, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of Bay Networks, Inc. included in the Annual
Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended June 30, 1996, and our report included in
the preceding paragraph with respect to the financial statement schedule
included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Bay Networks, Inc.
 
                                          ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Palo Alto, California
September 3, 1996