1-2CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW
TR-in-FE Benefits
Increasingly, Token Ring users are deploying switches to segment their networks and to increase available bandwidth to their workgroups. This has resulted in a demand for more server bandwidth as well as high-speed aggregation and switching. Previously, those users wanting their Token Ring server band- width increased beyond 32 Mbps faced limited options. They could add either FDDI or ATM down- links to their Token Ring switches–options that proved costly and complex. The Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet (TR-in-FE) system offers a new, simpler option at a much lower cost. TR-in-FE offers improvement in the following areas:
■Scalability
■TR switching
■High-speed technologies
■Wire-speed performance
■Flexibility
■High-speed flexibility (choice of D/L technology)
■Desktop flexibility (TR, Ethernet)
■Common high-speed infrastructure
■Managability
■Simple to configure and administer
■Cost effective
TR-in-FE allows both Token Ring and Ethernet to share the same Fast Ethernet physical wiring infra- structure and server base without impacting network
performance. TR-in-FE accomplishes this by introduc- ing routing or Source-Route to Transparent transla- tional bridging.
Fast Ethernet is relatively well understood and easy to configure. The TR-in-FE operates in both copper or fiber optic environments. Additionally, many tools exist to manage and administer Fast Ethernet due to its wide acceptance in the industry and its similarity to Ethernet.
TR-in-FE benefits those MIS managers most interested in:
■Preserving existing investments in TR infrastructure
■Seeking low-cost, high-speed connectivity
■Combining Ethernet and Token Ring for common server access
Fast Ethernet is less expensive than other options, such as FDDI and ATM. Using FE, the price per port for server attachment is 20% that of ATM and FDDI.
TR switching allows the install base of TR equipment and its configuration to remain intact and operational while allowing for an upgrade to higher performance through microsegmentation and interfaces to higher speed technologies. TR-in-FE represents one option for integrating Fast Ethernet into the TR switched environment.
