Local computer network architecture, standards, protocols, and marketing trends

Local Computer Networking is a burgeoning technology; competing system design methods, using different media, topology, protocol and access schemes vie for industry-wide standard status, with none yet having achieved a dominant position.

There are several key issues related to the design of a local computer network for a particular application and a variety of questions must be answered, such as

What physical standard interfaces and software protocols does the system support?

What off-the-shelf hardware and software should be used?

What kind of data links (twisted pair, coax, fiber optics link, microwave, digital radio, satellite, etc.) should be used?

What are the most attractive, interconnect topologies and access control methods to the network?

What communication technology (base band, broad band, time division multiplexing, etc.) suits the system requirements?

What network administrative tools allow to easily configure, maintain and monitor the network?

A deep understanding of these diverse concepts is a prerequisite for an optimum design of a Local Area Network LAN. This thesis attempts to provide the readers with tools to derive answers (hopefully) to most of these questions above.

In order to give a complete picture, an extensive investigation of proclaimed as well as de facto interface standards and data communications protocols was conducted. These standards are of great value particularly in computer networking where a large number of interfaces generally exist than in a single computer system. A brief overview of Multiprocessing in a distributed environment is also included to focus on the other end of computer networking spectrum. Finally, LAN product market and future trends are discussed because of their importance in the commercial world.