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FireWire

Based on the IEEE 1394 standard, FireWire is designed to eliminate the bottleneck at the serial port of the LAN-attached PC. While 100-Mbps LANs address the bottleneck of the shared medium, they overwhelm the attached workstation (much like drinking out of a firehose). As videoconferencing and multimedia applications increase in popularity, it is necessary to increase the speed of the SCSI (Small Computer Serial Interface) in order to support them and take full advantage of the speed provided by the LAN. FireWire addresses that requirement through standards for 100, 200, and 400 Mbps. The chip sets which accomplish this minor miracle currently are in the range of $30, but are expected to drop to $10 in 1996 and $6 in 1997 [9-44].

Nonstandard LANs

In addition to standard LANs there exist a number of nonstandard options. Some are proprietary standards that serve certain applications and vertical markets, such as those described earlier with reference to the oil refining industry. Others are more widely accepted, such as ARCnet (Attached Resource Computer network). Developed in 1977 by Datapoint Corporation, ARCnet is a highly reliable, low-cost token bus system based on a physical star and logical ring, and a character-oriented protocol. Delivering 2.5 Mbps on a standard basis, a new version delivers 20 Mbps [9-14]. The ARCnet standard is similar to the IEEE 802.4 specification, although its employs a baseband network [9-2].

References

[9-1] Shelly, Gary B and Cashman, Thomas J. Introduction to Computers and Data Processing. Fullerton, CA: Anaheim Publishing Company. 1980.
[9-2] Nunemacher, Greg. LAN Primer. Third Edition. NY: M&T Books. 1995.
[9-3] Metcalfe, Robert M. and Boggs, David R. Ethernet: Distributed Packet Switching for Local Computer Networks. Association for Computing Machinery, Inc. 1976.
[9-4] Metcalfe, Bob. “From the Ether.” InfoWorld. October 31, 1994.
[9-5] Williams, Veronica A. Wireless Computing Primer. NY: M&T Books. 1996.
[9-6] Ketchersid, John and Ferguson, Jerry. “Freedom!” Network World. November 13, 1995.
[9-7] Larsen, Amy K. “Wireless LANs: Worth a Second Look.” Data Communications. November 1995.
[9-8] Lee, Yvonne L. “Notebooks Connect to Network via Infrared.” Infoworld. April 8, 1996.
[9-9] Gambon, Jill. “The Price of Freedom.” Information Week. February 26, 1996.
[9-10] “Wireless LANs Get Throughput Boost.” Information Week. January 22, 1996.
[9-11] Tolly, Kevin. “Token Ring versus Ethernet: The Real Cost Story.” Data Communications. May 21, 1995.
[9-12] Miller, Mark A. Internetworking: A Guide to Network Communications LAN to LAN; LAN to WAN. Second Edition. NY: M&T Books. 1995.
[9-13] Spohn, Darren L. Data Network Design. NY: McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1993.
[9-14] Levy, Joseph R. and Hartwig, Glenn. Networking Fundamentals: From Installation to Application. NY: MIS: Press. 1995.
[9-15] Ethernet Tutorial and Product Guide. Irvine, CA: LANTRONIX. 1995.
[9-16] Lopez, Steve. “Why Switch?” Internetwork. March 1995.
[9-17] Petrosky, Mary. “Hub Shopping Spree.” Network World. May 29, 1995.
[9-18] Roberts, Erica. “Server-Based Routing Reconsidered.” Data Communications. March 1996.
[9-19] Darling, Charles B. “Routers Can Save Your WAN Dollars.” Datamation. July 1, 1995.
[9-20] Feit. Sidnie. TCP/IP: Architecture, Protocols and Implementation. NY: McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1993.
[9-21] Comer, Douglas E. Internetworking with TCP/IP. Second Edition. NY: Prentice-Hall. 1991.
[9-22] Jacobs, Paula. “Virtual LANs: Too Good to Be True?” Network World. March 27, 1995.
[9-23] Morency, John P. “Do VLANs Really Deliver?” Business Communications Review. July 1995.
[9-24] King, Steven S. “VLANs Raise Delicate Design Issues.” Network World. April 17, 1995.
[9-25] Allard, Hank. “Remote LAN Access: Strategies and Solutions.” Network World Technical Seminars. 1995.
[9-26] Gangler, Barbara. “Remote Possibilities.” Internetwork. June 1995.
[9-27] Duffy, Jim. “Remote Access Gear Piles Up.” Network World. May 20, 1996.
[9-28] Finneran, Michael. “Life in the Fast LAN.” Business Communications Review. May 1995.
[9-29] Rosen, Ron. “User’s Guide to 100Base-T and 100VG-AnyLAN.” Handbook of Local Area Networks. John P. Slone, Editor. NY: Auerbach Publications. 1995.
[9-30] Lach, Eric. “Faster and Cheaper Ethernet on the Way.” Communications Week. May 27, 1996.
[9-31] Okin, Ken and Lee, Tony. “Fast Ethernet is Here to Stay.” Network World. April 8, 1996.
[9-32] Brand, Richard. “Iso-Ethernet Bridging the Gap From WAN to LAN.” Data Communications. July 1995.
[9-33] Greenfield, David. “Iso-Ethernet A Reprieve for Ethernet?” Data Communications. March 1996.
[9-34] Sodergren, Mark. “Pumping Up 10Base-T with isoEthernet.” Network World 7, 1995.
[9-35] Rauch, Peter and Lawrence, Scott. “100VG-AnyLAN: The Other Fast Ethernet.” Data Communications. March 1995.
[9-36] Newman, David and Levy, Bruce. “100Base-T vs. 100VG: The Real Fast Ethernet.” Data Communications. March 1996.
[9-37] Peri, Ron. “Life in the Fast Lane.” Communications Week. January 23, 1995.
[9-38] Sullivan, Kristina B. “Promise of FDDI Holds True.” PC Week. January 15, 1996.
[9-39] Implementing FDDI in Enterprise LANs. SysKonnect, Inc. 1995.
[9-40] Heneghan, Hank. “New Configurations Make FDDI More Survivable.” Network World. November 20, 1995.
[9-41] Schurr, Amy. “Still Alive: FDDI Keeps Competition at Bay.” PC Week. December 18, 1995.
[9-42] Saunders, Stephen. “FDDI Switches: Immediate Relief for Backbones Under Pressure.” Data Communications. November 1995.
[9-43] Bruno, Charles. “Checking the Routing Structure of the Switching Blueprints.” Network World. September 25, 1995.
[9-44] Bournellis, Cynthia. “Raising the LAN Speed Limit.” Internetwork. November 1995.


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