Conference 7.286::fddi

21.0. "Question about FDDI" by SANFAN::ROBAK_RI (Born to be obnoxious) Mon Dec 18 1989 17:24

    Hello,
    
    My name is Richard Robak, and I have a customer who has kilometers of
    fiber ( both 62.5/125, and 50/125 ).  Currently he is using several
    DEBET-RCs, DEREP-RCs, DEBET-RHs, DEREP-RHs, and some Siecor fiber optic
    transceivers.  Rather than "hopping" through bridges ( creating the
    maximum bridge hop count of 7 ), the customer would like to replace
    this bridge/repeater equipment with dual-ring FDDI equipment.  Due to
    the lack of information about the specifications of equipment, the
    customer has some questions: 

        
    	1) Is FDDI going to be restricted to the 2km distance ( i.e.
    is part of the specification that the devices use LED sources rather
    that laser sources )?
    
    	2) I've read that there are two classes of devices: class a
    ( dual fiber optic paths ) and class b devices ( single fiber optic
    path ).  Is there a restriction on the number of paths that a dual
    pathed/ringed device may have?  If not, is there a recoomended or
    common number?
    
    	3) Obviously these devices will support ethernet, but how will
    these devices support the interconnect and routing?  Will these
    devices support single or multiple ethernet connections?

    	4) Will we be field testing our own FDDI equipment?  If so
    are we looking for field test sights?  I guess the next question
    is obvious: If we are supporting field test sights, who does one
    talk to in order to become a field test sight?
    
    
    I realize these questions are open ended, but I am having a hard
    time finding information on FDDI.  If someone could also point me
    in the direction of some good FDDI sources, I'd be appreciative.
    
    Thanks in advance,
    
    Rick Robak

    Rick,
       The first person you should contact is your Area Network Consultant,
    Bill Straub. He has a lot of information on FDDI and should be able to
    answer most of your questions. As for field test, we will be field
    testing our own gear, some external and some internal. The external
    sites have already been chosen and its really too late to add any
    additional sites. You have one out in your neighborhood, ask Bill about
    it (I don't know if its public info and should be posted here). 
    
    The supported distances between stations will be 2Km, as the spec
    specifies, using LEDs. So far there is no finalized spec on Single Mode
    Fiber using laser rather than LEDs so our initial products won't offer
    this option. 
    
    Debbie
    

    
    Got a hold of him,
    
    Rick Robak