Computer Communication & Networks: Interconnecting Lans
Computer Communication & Networks: Interconnecting Lans
Interconnecting LANs
Q: Why not just one big LAN? Limited amount of supportable traffic: on single LAN, all stations must share bandwidth Limited length: 802.3 specifies maximum cable length Large collision domain (can collide with many stations)
Hubs - 1
Physical Layer devices: essentially repeaters operating at bit levels: repeat received bits on one interface to all other interfaces Hubs can be arranged in a hierarchy (or multi-tier design), with backbone hub at its top
Hubs - 2
Each connected LAN referred to as LAN segment Hubs do not isolate collision domains: node may collide with any node residing at any segment in LAN Hub Advantages: simple, inexpensive device Multi-tier provides graceful degradation: portions of the LAN continue to operate if one hub malfunctions extends maximum distance between node pairs (100m per Hub)
Hub limitations
Single collision domain results in no increase in max throughput multi-tier throughput same as single segment throughput Individual LAN restrictions pose limits on number of nodes in same collision domain and on total allowed geographical coverage Cannot connect different Ethernet types (e.g., 10BaseT and 100baseT)
Bridges - 1
Link Layer devices: operate on Ethernet frames, examining frame header and selectively forwarding frame based on its destination Bridge isolates collision domains since it buffers frames When frame is to be forwarded on segment, bridge uses CSMA/CD to access segment and transmit
Bridges - 2
Bridge advantages: Isolates collision domains resulting in higher total max throughput, and does not limit the number of nodes nor geographical coverage Can connect different type Ethernet since it is a store and forward device Transparent: no need for any change to hosts LAN adapters
Bridges filter packets Same-LAN -segment frames not forwarded onto other LAN segments Forwarding: How to know which LAN segment on which to forward frame? Looks like a routing problem (more shortly!)
Backbone Bridge
Not recommended for two reasons: - Single point of failure at Computer Science hub - All traffic between EE and SE must path over CS segment
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Bridge Filtering - 1
Bridges learn which hosts can be reached through which interfaces: maintain filtering tables when frame received, bridge learns location of sender: incoming LAN segment records sender location in filtering table Filtering table entry: (Node LAN Address, Bridge Interface, Time Stamp) stale entries in Filtering Table dropped (TTL can be 60 minutes)
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Bridge Filtering - 2
Filtering procedure: if destination is on LAN on which frame was received then drop the frame else { lookup filtering table if entry found for destination then forward the frame on interface indicated; else flood; /* forward on all but the interface on which the frame arrived*/ }
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C sends frame, bridge has no info about D, so floods to both LANs bridge notes that C is on port 1 frame ignored on upper LAN
frame received by D
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D generates reply to C, sends bridge sees frame from D bridge notes that D is on interface 2 bridge knows C on interface 1, so selectively forwards frame out via interface 1
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Both store-and-forward devices routers: network layer devices (examine network layer headers) bridges are Link Layer devices Routers maintain routing tables, implement routing algorithms Bridges maintain filtering tables, implement filtering, learning and spanning tree algorithms
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Ethernet Switches - 1
layer 2 (frame) forwarding, filtering using LAN addresses Switching: A-to-B and A-toB simultaneously, no collisions large number of interfaces often: individual hosts, starconnected into switch Ethernet, but no collisions!
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Ethernet Switches - 2
cut-through switching: frame forwarded from input to output port without awaiting for assembly of entire frame slight reduction in latency combinations of shared/dedicated, 10/100/1000 Mbps interfaces
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Ethernet Switches - 3
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