Gigabit Ethernet promises to be the solution of choice for ultra-high-speed connections in many of today's LANs. A logical extension of the well-known Ethernet technology, it offers blazing speed capability with minimal disruption to existing network configurations and operations. Gigabit Ethernet provides the capacity required for bandwidth-hungry servers, campus backbone networks, and next-generation workstations. Furthermore, it provides a seamless upgrade path from existing 10 Mb/s and 100 Mb/s Ethernet networks. All of the skills, tools, training, and experience gained from using lower-speed Ethernet LANs can be applied to the new technology, easing the pain of migration. Appropriate for anyone involved with LAN technologiesaenetwork planners, designers and administrators, equipment and applications developers, technical salespeople, studentsaethis book provides a thorough explanation of Gigabit Ethernet and the principles on which it was built. Gigabit Ethernet explains the technology in clear terms, exploring the implications for its application and operation in real-world LANs.You will learn how to identify appropriate application environments for Gigabit Ethernet, as well as how to integrate it with other technologies, make intelligent choices about products and features, and set realistic expectations about performance. In this comprehensive book, you will find essential information on: *The history of Gigabit Ethernet and the rationale behind its design *The use of switches and dedicated bandwidth *Full-duplex operation and its implications for network design *Ethernet flow control *The automatic link configuration mechanism *Modifications made to the Ethernet Medium Access Control (MAC) algorithms to support 1000 Mb/s operation *The differences among Gigabit Ethernet hubs, including repeaters, switches, routers, and Buffered Distributors *Gigabit Ethernet physical signaling, including encoding methods, interfaces, media specifications, and topology rules *The appropriate technology and product features suited for various real-world application environments *The true causes of poor network performance and how you can optimize your network investment This book contains a convenient summary of the IEEE 802.3z Gigabit Ethernet standard.Also, to provide a perspective on Gigabit Ethernet's role relative to other high-performance LANs, Mr. Seifert compares Gigabit Ethernet to such alternative technologies as Fibre Channel, FDDI, HIPPI, and ATM. 0201185539B04062001