Conference 7.286::fddi

400.0. "SUN SBus FDDI card" by OZROCK::FARAGO (ncl-dns-cml-cmip...aargh!!) Thu Nov 21 1991 19:11

Apologies if this has already been posted 
($2995 seems pretty cheap! I wonder how it performs)

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                                                        The Florida SunFlash

		 Fiber Distributed Data Interface/SBus(FDDI/S)
   
SunFLASH Vol 35 #22					       November 1991 
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*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*  Product Highlights:                                                        *
*                                                                             *
*  - Provides single attach connection conforming to ANSI FDDI network        *
*    standard                                                                 *
*                                                                             *
*  - Low cost FDDI solution - extends FDDI capability to desktop systems      * 
*									      *
*  - Single SBus board connects to an available SBus slot in any SPARCsystem  *
*    including SPARCServer product family                                     *
*                                                                             *
*  - Includes SunNet Manager proxy agent for SMT 6.2 for easy FDDI network    * 
*    management                                                               *
*                                                                             *
*  - Built-in test, power-up, and extended diagnostic features                *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

Introduction
------------

The following product was announced this by SunConnect, a business of
Sun Microsystems, Inc.  SMCC will be carrying this product per the
pricing and ordering information attached.

The Fiber Distributed Data Interface/SBus (FDDI/S interface) is part of
the Sun family of standard network products designed to expand
connectivity through the implementation of industry standard
communication protocols.  Adhering to the FDDI standard, FDDI/S is a
network interface that provides 100 Mb/s LAN-based connectivity
typically in environments where a replacement for Ethernet is sought.
Over the next few years, a growing percentage of the SMCC user
community will migrate to this standard when Ethernet speed becomes a
bottleneck.

The FDDI/S interface consists of a single-slot SBus printed circuit
board assembly, driver software, and network monitoring utilities.
Together, these components allow any SPARCsystem to connect to an FDDI
LAN for high network availability and throughput.

The FDDI Standard 
-----------------

FDDI is a multivendor local area network(LAN) standard developed by the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI).  It offers an
industry-standard solution for organizations that need flexible,
robust, high performance networks. In an effort to standardize the
high-speed networking market, 100 Mb/s FDDI features timed-token
protocol.  It is available in a single-attach star configuration or
dual ring topology for high-availability.

The FDDI LAN technology moves large amounts of data. FDDI represents a
tenfold increase in speed over the IEEE 802.3 standard (Ethernet), and
even a greater increase in speed over the 4Mb/s IEEE 802.5 (Token Ring)
standard. Ethernet and Token Ring will continue to be used in many
application environments. FDDI can coexist and complement current LAN
standards. Any Sun server or deskside workstation that supports FDDI
can act as a router between an Ethernet and/or Token Ring subnet and an
FDDI network, through the bundled routing software in SunOS.

Fiber LANs 
----------

FDDI has the capability to handle traffic problems associated with
saturated backbones and limited bandwidth.  As the number of users
increase over large geographic areas, more powerful computers apply
increased network loads, and client/server intensive applications are
deployed, the need for futuristic cabling is imperative.  Fiber
provides a means to handle todays and tomorrows LAN congestion and
performance problems.  The FDDI/S supports single mode, 62.5 micron
fiber optic cable as defined by the ANSI standard. The use of FDDI/S
interfaces and fiber cable provides organizations the necessary
migration path towards efficient high speed LANs.

PRODUCT FEATURES 
----------------

Single Attach Station(SAS) Configurations
-----------------------------------------

The FDDI/S interface is a single attach station that requires the use
of an FDDI concentrator for connectivity to large rings. Two systems
can form a point-to-point connection without a concentrator.
FDDI concentrators are sold with a varying number of ports (4 to 32
ports) to connect SAS devices with a single fiber cable.  Sun does not
supply FDDI concentrators.  SAS only connect to the primary fiber ring
and usually have access to the dual ring through a concentrator.  To
prevent a defective SAS device from disrupting the ring, fault control
is provided through the concentrator.  SAS is a reliable,
cost-effective method of connecting to an FDDI network.

An alternate SAS configuration for critical systems is called redundant
single attach station (RSAS).  To eliminate the possibility of a single
point of failure for critical systems such as servers. two FDDI/S cards
can be used in a system.  Each FDDI/S interface is connected to a
different concentrator providing a backup path for continual system
access.

FDDI/S Board Assembly 
---------------------

The FDDI/S interface can be used in SBus-based Sun workstations and
server.  It provides access to 100 Mb/s fiber optic LANs.  The FDDI/S
interface connects to the SBus through a custom ASIC chip.  The DMA
provides fast and efficient data transfer across the bus.  FDDI/S
includes a Media Access Controller (MAC) to enable increased system
throughput onto FDDI networks.

FDDI/S Driver Software 
----------------------

The FDDI/S software consists of system-level code to interface with the
SBus FDDI  interface. The FDDI/S software is tightly integrated into
Sun's complete software environment, providing a single-vendor
networking solution. The FDDI/S interface works seamlessly with other
SunConnect products and services such as SunLink OSI, TCP/IP and UDP/IP
protocols, and the industry-standard Network File System (NFS).

The FDDI/S interface software fits below the link layer. TCP/IP and OSI
protocols work over the FDDI/S interface as they do with Ethernet.

SMT 6.2 Support 
---------------

FDDI/S supports Station Management(SMT) revision 6.2 as specified by
the  ANSI X3T9.5 FDDI SMT standard.

Network Management with SunNet Manager Proxy Agent
--------------------------------------------------

SunNet(TM) Manager is Sun's network management system that provides
user and resource management/monitoring tools, and a network management
platform for heterogeneous distributed networks.  SunNet Manager is an
open and extensible network management platform that can support de
facto standard network management protocols.  The FDDI/S proxy agent
facilitates the collection of FDDI network management information from
FDDI nodes running SMT 6.2 for display at the SunNet Manager console.

Transparency to TCP/IP and ONC Applications
-------------------------------------------

All TCP/IP-based applications work over FDDI/S just as they do with
Ethernet or Token Ring.  This includes all bundled TCP/IP services
(SMTP, FTP, TFTP, TELNET, etc) and user written TCP/IP applications
using sockets or other TCP/IP-based APIs.  No relinking or
recompilation is required.  Similarly, all applications of the ONC open
systems distributed computing environment using the TCP or UDP
transports will work over FDDI/S.
 

Hardware Requirements
---------------------

 SPARCsystem with available SBus slot

 62.5 micron fiber optic cable

 3rd-party-supplied SAS concentrator, available through SMCC CSS 
 Professional Services. 

Software Requirements
---------------------

 SunOS 4.1 or SunOS 4.1.1

Documentation
-------------

Each FDDI/S product includes the following set of release specific documents:

 - FDDI/S Product Notes

 - FDDI/S Installation and Administration Guide


U.S. PRICING AND INFORMATON
---------------------------

THE FOLLOWING APPEARS ON BOTH THE END USER AND RESELLER PRICE LISTS.

(Please see the actual price list for specific product notes):

			Order	List	Discount	Same Day
Description		Number	Price	Category	Service Price
======================================================================

FDDI single attach    	X1003A  $2,995	    A		  $20
SBus interface
card, driver 
software on CD &
3.5" disk media,
and Docs

NOTE:  Service price above is hardware-only.  Software support is $10/month.

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