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