A general overview of SCinet connectivity options is given elsewhere. This document discusses some more technical aspects of SCinet connectivity, enabling one to better understand SCinet offering in order to make an informed choice of connectivity options. Here we discuss the available media types and provide guidelines for selecting the media type(s) for a booth as well as the number of host addresses to request per connection. This information will help one complete the SCinet resource request form.
One of the questions on the resource request form asks the desired media type(s). SCinet will offer Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, FDDI, OC-3c ATM and serial HIPPI connections as well as dark fiber between booths. For each media type, SCinet will provide a fiber drop to the booth. It is planned that all fiber will be terminated in the booth with ST connectors. The booth end of the fiber is the demarcation point between SCinet and booth responsibility. The booth must provide any necessary media conversion (transceivers, etc).
As a reminder, Ethernet and FDDI will be switched, whereas Fast Ethernet will be shared.
HIPPI connections will be provided under the auspices of the HIPPI Network Forum. If any hosts in a booth are to be HIPPI attached, one should follow HNF guidelines in requesting HIPPI connections. These guidelines include logical vs. physical addressing and switch configuration. All SCinet/HNF provisioned connections will be IP over HIPPI.
For other lit media types (ie, everything else but dark fiber), a question to be answered is whether or not one wishes to do IP routing (or, for example, FDDI-to-Ethernet switching) within the booth. This will determine whether hosts in the booth will be on shared (but switched) subnets or there will be a subnet allocated to the booth. This can be summarized in the following table.
| Routing Policy | Suggested Media Request | Routing Implications |
| No routing or switching between media types | A connection for each media type in the booth. Each will plug into a hub or concentrator or the like (or, in a small booth, directly into a host). | There will be one subnet per drop for each media type. The subnet addresses will probably not be contiguous and may have different subnet masks. Default routes will be provided for each subnet. |
| Switching between media types | A connection for the fastest media type in the booth. It will plug into the switch. | All the interfaces in the booth will be on the same subnet. All will have the same subnet mask and the same default routes. This could make multi-homed hosts problematic. |
| Routing (a border router between the booth and the world). | A connection for the fastest media type in the booth. It will plug into the router. | The interface to which the SCinet connection is attached will be from one address block and have a given netmask. The default route will point out this interface. A separate block of addresses and subnet mask will be provided for the other hosts in the booth. This block may be further subnetted by the booth. |
It must be stressed that the above should be taken as advisory. Specific questions should be sent via electronic mail to the SCinet help address.
If a booth is not using switching or routing, the number of addresses per media type should be the number of interfaces on that media type. If switching or routing is used, the number requested should be the total number of interfaces in the booth. However, if the booth network is to be further subnetted, the number of interfaces per subnet should also be specified. Please be pragmatic in your estimates--in general, SCinet will round all numbers to the next higher power of two.
|Home|
|Back|
|SC'96|