Extended High Speed Networks Employing Hippi Switches, High Speed WANs, and FDDI Rings

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Franta, W. R. | Hughes, J. P.

Affiliations: Network Systems Corporation, 7600 Boone Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55428

Abstract: Computational and storage “power” is increasing at alarmingly well documented rates. As everything that's connected to data transmission network becomes more capable so must data networks. To truly unleash the genie stored in these “power” increases, information (data) must flow more rapidly into and out of these devices. Channel and backplane speeds commensurate with these increasing computational and storage “powers” are beginning to appear. The data transfer equation is then balanced only if network speeds follow suit. Our focus in this paper is to concentrate on LAN/WAN networks currently within reach that attempt to “follow suit”, concentrating specifically on FDDI- and HIPPI-based LAN networks, new WAN offerings, and concluding with speculations on next generation high speed networking capabilities. Along the way we enumerate certain observations relevant to the acquisition and use of extended high-speed networks.

Keywords: FDDI, HIPPI Channel, Cross-Bar Switch, Frame Relay, Wave Division Multiplexing

DOI: 10.3233/JHS-1992-1204

Journal: Journal of High Speed Networks, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 167-192, 1992