Conference 7.286::fddi

1753.0. "Interoperability of UTP - "ANSI TP-PMD" (not) CDDI" by SCHOOL::MAJIKAS () Wed Jul 19 1995 11:29

From:	NPSS::HUTCHISON    "note new network address"
To:	 SCHOOL::MAJIKAS  SCHOOL::DUNBECK SKYWAY::MRGATE::"A1_GENIE::DEY"
CC:	 NETCAD::B_CRONIN,NETCAD::MELARAGNI,NPSS::HUTCHISON 
Subj:	UTP interoperability - FDDI

Probably the most important thing is to say "if it doesn't work, bring it back
and we'll fix it or return your money".  This has not been a problem.
(If this ever happens - get documentation on the problem and send it here!-)

The best evidence of the interoperability of our FDDI TP-PMD products is the
public interoperability demos and testing - some references:


Fall "Interop" 1993 (tradeshow) had  some 23 vendors including DEC
and their respective FDDI UTP products in one FDDI ring.
This was writen up in trade journals at the time although I don't have any
good references.  One such article was written by author Michael Fahey
(don't have title, date or anything else).  DEC had several  adapters and
Concentrators in the show configuration.   

The Boston FDDI-UTP interoperability demo - June 2, 1993, had 13  Vendors
in the test including several DEC products (both concentrators and adapters).
A press release was issued by Lisa Hempel, Cunningham Communications
(408-952-0400) and a presentation by Charles R. Robbins (Aberdeen Group,
Director of Communications Research 617-723-7890) describe the event.

Also, DEC participated in interoperability testing conducted by  the Interop
test labs in California (AMD)  and University of New Hampshire (UNH) for
several years. We supplied equipment to both labs so that we would receive
notification of any problems identified by these independent labs. All problems
were resolved, I don't remember if we had any ourselves, but folks like Bill
Cronin from DEC spent weeks chasing down some of the things that  came up and
became well known in the industry as a key technical expert. These  FDDI test
labs are now pretty much shut down due to lack of need.    (Now, they've all
moved  on to ATM:-)

Finally, please don't use "CDDI"  in reference to DEC FDDI UTP products. Say,
"ANSI TP-PMD" or FDDI-UTP.  If you must say the four letter word,  add a
reference to "ANSI TP-PMD standard".   CDDI was the official trademark of a
propriatary design which is not interoperable with the standards. Because of
the confusion, we need to be clear we're interoperable with ANSI standard
products.

Oh, one other possible pointer - the DEC PCI-FDDI adapter includes UTP and
won an award as "Years best product" from Data Communications.  Mike Paquette
(DEC) can provide more info if needed.

Hope this helps.   You can post this if that's useful.

jer

>>Finally, please don't use "CDDI"  in reference to DEC FDDI UTP products. Say,
>>"ANSI TP-PMD" or FDDI-UTP.  If you must say the four letter word,  add a
>>reference to "ANSI TP-PMD standard".   CDDI was the official trademark of a
>>propriatary design which is not interoperable with the standards. Because of
>>the confusion, we need to be clear we're interoperable with ANSI standard
>>products.
    
    Just to add to Jerry's comment.  The adapter group has always referred
    to "ANSI TP-PMD" as the name of the standard.  The more astute readers
    know the standard and expect us to follow it.  However, "CDDI"
    has become a marketing/sales term for ANSI TP-PMD (whether we like it
    or not) and for all intents and purposes today it means the ANSI
    standard.  I've had sales people, end users, field service, and
    marketing folks refer to "CDDI" as the name for our FDDI over UTP
    products, and it's stuck.  It's beyond re-education at this point since
    even the media uses "CDDI".
    
    Should anyone call asking whether we support "CDDI", our response
    should be
    
    "Yes, we support the ANSI standard for running FDDI over UTP cabling".
    
    Please don't respond with "No" since 99.99999% of the time they're
    asking for ANSI compliant products.
    
       - Larry