From: daemon@cs.tulane.edu ()
	id AA22325; Sun, 8 Nov 92 21: 12:05 PST
Subject: 47.11 SunFlash: 10/100 MBPS Ethernet Migration Objectives
Original-Message-Id: <9211090511.AA09077@sunvice.East.Sun.COM>
Precedence: junk
Reply-To: <owner-sunflash@housun.Central.Sun.COM>
Organization: Computer Science Dept., Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA
Errors-To: <owner-sunflash@housun.Central.Sun.COM>
Distribution: lou
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 06:11:32 GMT
Return-Path: <owner-sunflash@housun.Central.sun.com>
Nntp-Posting-Host-[nntpd-4342]: rex

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        The Florida SunFlash

          LEADING ETHERNET SUPPLIERS ENDORSE "10/100 MBPS
		ETHERNET MIGRATION OBJECTIVES"

SunFLASH Vol 47 #11					       November 1992 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reminder: Satellite Broadcast Of Sun's New Products: Nov 10, 1992

Please call 1-800-688-9707 to register. Call you local Sun office or
the 800 Number to find the closest location to you that is hosting this
event and the local times for this event. Some locations will host this
event twice. By registering with the 800 number, you should be able to
select the least busy session.  (In Ft. Lauderdale people prefer the
morning session 3:1!)

McNealy: "I personally consider this announcement to be Sun's most
important since the SPARCstation 1 in April '89, and I invite you to
join us on November 10th for a major industry event."

-johnj
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

	  3Com, SynOptics, Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation 
			and LAN Media Corporation 
		Support Standards Development Effort


SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 4, 1992 - Leading networking suppliers today
endorsed a list of goals for implementing Ethernet networks at 100
megabits per second (Mbps) using unshielded twisted pair (UTP) 10BASE-T
wiring and pledged support to expedite a workable standard for the
industry. The objectives supported by 3Com Corporation, SynOptics
Communications, Inc., Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation, LAN Media
Corporation, and others are a set of technical objectives the vendors
believe are necessary for a final 100 Mbps Ethernet standard and will
be presented for discussion at the IEEE 802.3 committee meeting during
the week of November 9 in San Diego, Calif.

The advent of 100 Mbps Ethernet technology means customers can meet the
increasing demands for greater bandwidth for new applications and
larger numbers of users on network segments with a cost-effective
approach that will extend the useful life of the installed base of
Ethernet equipment.  According to the group of suppliers, this is
clearly achievable with well-known, existing technology.

The goal of the "10/100 Mbps Ethernet Migration Objectives" (Editor's
Note:  see attached for more details on the objectives) is to ensure a
final standard that is cost-effective and technically feasible to
implement. The four objectives include providing a low-cost migration
from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps, ensuring rapid standards development by
leveraging existing interfaces, preserving current Ethernet Media
Access Control (MAC) layer protocols while scaling speed up to 100
Mbps, and supporting existing cabling. The group believes the
objectives meet customer requirements and can be implemented in a
timely manner.

These objectives are independent of a particular technology proposal
and are expected to be generally compatible with approaches from other
vendors.  Consensus by a large group of leading suppliers on a set of
objectives is an important development since this type of general
agreement is the first step in the smooth evolution of standards.

Founded in 1979, 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ: COMS) pioneered the
networking industry and today offers growing businesses and
organizations the industry's broadest range of data networking
products, including bridges, routers, structured wiring hubs and
adapters.  The company is committed to leading the growth of global
data networking infrastructures that allow people to use data as
proactively and efficiently as today's most sophisticated telephone
networks streamline and facilitate voice communications. Headquartered
in Santa Clara, Calif., 3Com is the only data networking company that
maintains worldwide research and development, manufacturing, support,
marketing, sales and service capabilities.

Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation, a subsidiary of Sun
Microsystems, Inc., is the world's leading supplier of open
client-server computing solutions.  Sun Microsystems, Inc. has its
headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

SynOptics Communications, Inc. is a leading supplier of networking
products and management systems to organizations worldwide. SynOptics
delivers the network fabric that enables organizations to build
enterprise-wide network systems today and multi-enterprise networks in
the future.  The network fabric is built with intelligent hubs that
link all types of computers, integrate bridges, routers and switches as
needed, and provide common, integrated network management.  The result
is an underlying, flexible structure that provides high-speed network
communications. The company, founded in 1985, is headquartered in Santa
Clara, Calif. and has approximately 40 offices worldwide. SynOptics is
publicly traded over the counter under the NASDAQ symbol SNPX.

LAN Media Corporation (LMC), founded in March 1992, is dedicated to
developing high-speed signaling technology for the LAN marketplace.
Its initial focus is signaling for 100 Mbps Ethernet.  LMC is a
privately held company and is located in Santa Clara, Calif.

		      # # #

3Com is a registered trademark of 3Com Corporation.  SynOptics is a
registered trademark of SynOptics Communications Inc.  Sun, Sun
Microsystems and Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation are trademarks
or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems Inc.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

10/100 Mbps Ethernet Migration Objectives October 1992

A group of leading networking suppliers has endorsed a list of
objectives for implementing Ethernet networks at 100 Mbps using
unshielded twisted pair (UTP) 10BASE-T wiring and pledged support to
expedite a workable standard for the industry. The objectives supported
by 3Com Corporation, SynOptics Communications, Inc., Sun Microsystems,
LAN Media Corporation and others will be presented for open discussion
at the IEEE 802.3 committee meeting the week of November 9 in San
Diego, Calif. These objectives are as follows:

o       Provide low-cost migration from 10 Mbps Ethernet to
	100 Mbps Ethernet for all installations

A low-cost migration strategy for customers requires the ability to
upgrade installations to 100 Mbps Ethernet capability as needs
dictate.  Customers should not be required to implement massive
retrofitting.  Instead, 100 Mbps capability should be added
link-by-link, with an ability to connect smoothly between 10 Mbps
segments and 100 Mbps segments.

o       Ensure rapid standards development by leveraging
	existing interfaces

Changes in required interfaces between computers and network equipment,
or between software drivers and hardware, automatically result in
longer standards development process time.  The group's goal is to
minimize the time required to finalize an upgraded standard, and the
chances for new technical problems to arise, by using existing and
proven technology whenever possible. The upgrade from 10 Mbps to 100
Mbps will be more widely implemented if the original specification
remains as close to its current form as possible.

o       Preserve Ethernet Media Access Control protocols while
	scaling speed of the network up to 100 Mbps

The evolution in Ethernet speed from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps should be
handled in much the same manner that Token Ring technology migrated
smoothly from 4 Mbps to 16 Mbps - preserving investments in the
software drivers and applications that have been developed over more
than a decade.  This can be accomplished by minimizing the changes to
the protocols governing the Media Access Control (MAC) layer.

o       Support existing cabling types

The tremendous success of the 10BASE-T standard was due, in part, to
its ability to accommodate the majority of UTP cabling already
installed in customer sites.  It is important to preserve the same
infrastructure as Ethernet speed increases.  However, the technology
must be technically feasible to implement in an affordable way. More
work must be completed to define specifically which types of unshielded
twisted pair wiring can be reliably supported. It is expected that
levels 3,4 and 5 cabling will be supported, since these represent the
largest share of the installed base of wiring.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Futher Information Contact

Brian Biles, SMCC Network Management and Connectivity Manager
415-336-2056 brian.biles@corp

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM.
Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM.
Archives are on solar.nova.edu, paris.cs.miami.edu, uunet.uu.net,
src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au

All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third
party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local
Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in
your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications
within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or
publication by Sun Microsystems.

John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.

TRACE: To: sunflash@housun.Central Errors-to: owner-sunflash@housun.Central.sun.com
Newsgroups: lou.sun