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Conference 7.286::fddi

Title:FDDI - The Next Generation
Moderator:NETCAD::STEFANI
Created:Thu Apr 27 1989
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2259
Total number of notes:8590

16.0. "FDDI design?" by CSOA1::SEITZ (LOST-IN-SPACE) Wed Nov 01 1989 14:51

    Design of FDDI networks appears to be very simple as compared to
    Ethernet or 802.5 design when looking at the general specifications.
    IE. 200 km fiber and 1000 connections maximum.
    
    One would think that as long as you use the specified fiber, you
    could build an FDDI network without much thought.
    
    I know there must be more to FDDI design than this. Some issues that
    become obvious to me include conditions during a cable or component
    fault. Do the FDDI specifications deal with this clearly? I would
    guess that one should design the network such that you assume the
    network to operate in a failed condition. In this state, the signal
    would traverse through each node twice (assuming the stations are
    not connected to an intelligent concentrator) on it's trip around 
    the ring therefore each station should count twice in the total
    station calculation. Is this correct? Along with this thought, the
    fiber connecting these stations would also count twice in calculating
    the overall circumference of the ring. Is this correct?
    
    What other issues need to be considered during the design of FDDI?
    I consider these issues to be beyond the scope of DFON as DFON is
    limited to cable plant design and not intended to deal with the
    specific products on the cable plant and how to configure them to
    operate beyond providing adequate light and bandwidth.
    
    Will there be a Digital FDDI design guide published prior to product
    release? I have a number of customers who have recieved PID
    presentations on FDDI and are requesting design assistance today.
    Who would I, as an NWSS NPC, call to obtain additional information
    today on proper FDDI design?
    
    
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16.1FDDI isn't much differentCVG::PETTENGILLmulpThu Nov 02 1989 22:3316
I'm tired so perhaps that's why I don't understand what you're asking.

FDDI networks follow the same basic principles other LANs:

1. Radial wiring a la Thinwire, except the coax is a pair of fibers and
   the DEMPR is a FDDI cable concentrator.

2. Divide the LAN into zones of modest size using cable concentrators in place
   of repeaters and by using bridges.

3. Limit the number of number of users impacted faults by using routers to
   partition LANs.

FDDI doesn't represent a fundemental change in LAN technology.  In fact, I'd
argue that FDDI requires a substantial investment to just equal the simplicity
of Ethernet.