Networking Bible

Chapter 12. Local Area Networking

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Introduction to LANs

• How broadcast technology solves some network issues

• How Ethernet works

• Token Ring and FDDI networks

• How industry creates network automation systems

• Automate a home using RF over power lines and X10 networks

This chapter surveys the major classes of networks that are used to create Local Area Networks (LANs), with the exception of wireless LANs. It describes the different technologies and how they are implemented. The network types described are Ethernet, Token Ring, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), X10, and different industrial automation bus standards. The many IEEE 802.x standards that have codified these different network types are also listed.

Ethernet is an example of a frame-based broadcast network. Frames are constructed that include standard fields for source and destination addresses, synchronization, error checking, and more. The construction of an Ethernet frame is fully described. Ethernet frames sometimes arrive at the same time, resulting in a collision. Ethernet uses Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) to detect and correct data loss that results from collision.

Token Ring networks use a different method for network access. On these networks, endpoints get the chance to broadcast on the network when they receive a special token frame. Token Ring networks are now largely an IBM technology. FDDI networks are token rings that use optical fiber to create high-speed systems. ...