Technology - Data 4 - LAN Principles

Synopsis

This report reviews the history of Ethernet LAN architectures and provide a detailed description of Layer 2 Ethernet working with Layer 3 IP protocols to carry a complete communication session. Also discussed are routers and the lesser used LAN technologies, Token Ring, ATM, FDDI, Fibre Channel and InfiniBand.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Introduction
• 3. Hubs, repeaters and bridges
  • 3.1 Hub
  • 3.2 Repeaters
  • 3.3 Bridges
• 4. Switches
  • 4.1 Switch operation with TCP/IP
    • 4.1.1 IP addresses
    • 4.1.2 Ethernet MAC addresses
    • 4.1.3 Address Resolution Protocol
    • 4.1.4 Switch learns MAC addresses
    • 4.1.5 Switches connected to other switches
    • 4.1.6 Content Addressable Memory (CAM)
  • 4.2 Multicast IP
    • 4.2.1 IGMP snooping
    • 4.2.2 Scaling to large networks
  • 4.3 Routers
• 5. Token Ring
• 6. FDDI – Fibre-Distributed Data Interface
• 7. Fibre Channel
• 8. InfiniBand
• 9. Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
• 10. Wireless LANs
• 11. Related reports