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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

111.0. "Basic FDDI questions" by FDCV06::IZZO () Wed Aug 15 1990 17:04


1. Thruout the "FDDI System Level Description" document is states that
   the MAC in a Concetntrator is optional.  If MAC is responsible for such 
   things as: fair and equal access to the ring, claiming, beaconing, 
   frame construction etc., how can MAC be optional in the CON.  How does
   a MAC-less CON function?

2. Is the MAC required on the CON in orded to manage the CON with DECelms.

3. The above referenced document suggest implementing the dual ring on
   only several of the CONs (Main Distribution Ring).  However, if we
   must install fiber to the other buildings (eg a campus environment),
   and the DECconecntrator500 is a DAC, why would we not want all the CONs
   to also be part of the DUAL-ring?

4. If FDDI is a point-to-point topology why is it recommended that 24 pair
   fiber cables be run between CONs - when would the other 22 pairs ever 
   be used?

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111.1some basic answersBAGELS::LEVYThu Aug 16 1990 15:3441
                       <<< Note 111.0 by FDCV06::IZZO >>>
                           -< Basic FDDI questions >-



>1. Thruout the "FDDI System Level Description" document is states that
>   the MAC in a Concetntrator is optional.  If MAC is responsible for such 
>   things as: fair and equal access to the ring, claiming, beaconing, 
>   frame construction etc., how can MAC be optional in the CON.  How does
>   a MAC-less CON function?

    Like a dumb repeater. 
    
    Think of it as a fiber-optic DEMPR. (Just as dumb, just as invisible to
    network management.)
    
>2. Is the MAC required on the CON in orded to manage the CON with DECelms.

    Yes. See above.
    
>3. The above referenced document suggest implementing the dual ring on
>   only several of the CONs (Main Distribution Ring).  However, if we
>   must install fiber to the other buildings (eg a campus environment),
>   and the DECconecntrator500 is a DAC, why would we not want all the CONs
>   to also be part of the DUAL-ring?

    Because it's not a good idea to have the dual ring leave the MDF. See
    Jerry Hutchison's IEEE paper for the full explanation.
    
    The DECconcentrator 500 can act as a DAC or a SAC. SAC's are treed off
    the dual ring of DAC's.
    
>4. If FDDI is a point-to-point topology why is it recommended that 24 pair
>   fiber cables be run between CONs - when would the other 22 pairs ever 
>   be used?

    The guidelines in DECconnect cover all potential applications (full
    motion video, security, voice, etc.), not just FDDI.

    
                                                        
111.2KONING::KONINGNI1D @FN42eqThu Aug 16 1990 19:406
Please do NOT call the dec concentrator a SAC or say that it can act like
one.  It is not and does not act like one.  The correct statement is
that a SAC is permitted only in the tree, and a DAC is permitted both in
the tree and in the dual ring -- which is why we built a DAC.

	paul
111.3CVG::PETTENGILLmulpFri Aug 17 1990 21:489
The cost of running cable, any cable, almost always is greater than the cost
of the cable itself.  In the case of fiber, this is still true.  Fiber is
generally installed in REAL orange hose which first must be installed like
conduit and then the fiber is pulled thru the hose.  Based on the size of the
hose, you figure that you can stick a lot of cables in it, but the catch is
that you pretty much need to do it all at once.  If you try to later pull
additonal fibers thru the same hose, you run the risk of damaging both the
existing cable and the new cable because of heat buildup and other stresses
the happen because of the fiction between the cables.
111.4FDDI - DEMFA and LATSUBWAY::HILTONthe light at the end of the tunnel is an Oncomming..(crunch)Wed Apr 01 1992 14:2012
    
    
    some LAT based questions on FDDI
    
    will  two DEMFA's automatically fail-over between themselves if one
    dies?  IE: run LAT on one and then when it dies. AUTOMATICALLY failover
    to the second unit WITHOUT loss of LAT sessions?
    
    can LAT run on two DEMFA's simultaniously  IE: can I run LAT on two
    independent rings from a vax connected to both?  If so...does lat
    have enough smarts to deal with what logical connection goes where?