Ethernet: distributed packet switching for local computer networks

ABSTRACT

Ethernet is a branching broadcast communication system for carrying digital data packets among locally distributed computing stations. The packet transport mechanism provided by Ethernet has been used to build systems which can be viewed as either local computer networks or loosely coupled multiprocessors. An Ethernet's shared communication facility, its Ether, is a passive broadcast medium with no central control. Coordination of access to the Ether for packet broadcasts is distributed among the contending transmitting stations using controlled statistical arbitration. Switching of packets to their destinations on the Ether is distributed among the receiving stations using packet address recognition. Design principles and implementation are described, based on experience with an operating Ethernet of 100 nodes along a kilometer of coaxial cable. A model for estimating performance under heavy loads and a packet protocol for error controlled communication are included for completeness.

REFERENCES

• 1: Abramson, N. The Aloha system. AFIPS Conf. Pro:., Vol. 37,1970 FJCC, AFIPS Press, Montvale, N.J., 1970, pp. 281-285.
• 2: Abramson, N. and Kuo, F.F. Computer-Communication Networks. Prantice-Ha0, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1975.
• 3: Ashenhurst, R.L., and Vonderohe, R.H. A hierarchical network. Datamation 21, 2 (Feb. 1975), 40-44.
• 4: Baran, p. On distributed communications. Rand Corp. Memo RM-3420-PR, Aug. 1964.
• 5: Barnes, G.H., Brown, R.M., Kato, M., Knek, D.J., Slomick, D.L., and Stokes, R.A. The Illinc IV Computer. IEEE Trans. Computers C-I 7, 8 (Aug. 1968), 758-770.
• 6: Binder, R., Abramson, N., Kuo, F., Okinaka, A., and Wax, D. Aloha packet broadcastlng--a retrospect. AF1PS Conf. Proc., Vol. 44,1975 NCC, AFIPS Press, Montvale, N.J., 1975.
• 7: Cerf, V.G., and Kahn, R.E. A protneol for packet network intercommunication. IEEE Trans. Comm. COMM- 22, 5 (May 1974), 637-648.
• 8: The shrinking world: computer networks and communications. Computer 7, 2 (Feb. 1974).
• 9: Distributed-function computer architectures. Computer 7, 3 (March 1974).
• 10: Crocker S.D. Heafner J F Metcalfe R M, and Postel J.B. Funetion-otiented protocols for the Arpa computer network- AFIPS Conf. Proc., Vol. 40, 1972 SJCC, AFIPS Press, Montvale, N.J., 1972, pp. 271-279.
• 11: Crowther, W.R., Heart, F.E., McKenzie, A.A., McQinllan, J.M., and Walden, D.C. Issues in packet-switching network design. AFIPS Conf. Proc., Vol. 44,1975 NCC, AFIPS Press, Montvale, N.J., 1975, pp. 161-175.
• 12: Farber, DJ., et al. The distributed computing system. Proc. 7th Ann. IEEE Computer Sne. International Conf., Feb. 1973, pp. 31-34.
• 13: Father, DJ., A ring network. Datamation 21, 2 (Feb. 1975), 44-46.
• 14: Fraser, A.G. A virtual channel network. Datamation 21, 2 (Feb. 1975), 51-53.
• 15: Heart, F.E. Kahn, R.E. Omstein, S.M., Crother, W.R., and Walden, D.C. The interface message processor for the Arpa computer network, AFIPS Conf. Proc., Vol, 36, 1970 SJCC, AFIPS Press, Montvale, N.J., 1970, pp. 551-567.
• 16: Heart, F.E. Ornstein, S.M., Crother, W.R., and Barker, W.B. A new minicomputer-multiprocessor for the Arpa network. AFIPS Conf. Proc., Vol. 42, 1972 SJCC, AFIPS Press, Montvale, N.J., 1972, pp. 529-537.
• 17: Kahn, R.R. The organization of computer resources into a packet ratio network. AFIPS Conf. Proc. Vol. 44, 1975 NCC, AFIPS Press, Montvale, N.J., 1975, pp. 177-186.
• 18: Metcalfe, R.M. Strategies for interprocess communication in a distributed computing system. Proc. Symp. on Computer Commun. Networks and Teletraffic. Polytechnic Press, New York, 1972.
• 19: Robert M. Metcalf, Strategies for operating systems in computer networks, Proceedings of the ACM annual conference, August 01-01, 1972, Boston, Massachusetts, United States [doi>10.1145/800193.569929]
• 20: Metcalfe, R.M. Steady-state analysis of a slotted and controlled aloha system with blocking. Proc. 6th Hawaii Conf. on System Sci. Jan. 1973, pp. 375-380.
• 21: R. M. Metcalfe, PACKET COMMUNICATION, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 1973
• 22: Metcalfe, R.M. Distributed algorithms for a broadcast queue. Talk given at Stanford University in November 1974 and at the University of California at Berkeley in February 1975, paper in preparation.
• 23: Murthy, P. Analysis of a carrier-sense random-access system with random packet length. aloha System Tech. Rep. B75-17, U. of Hawaii, May 1975.
• 24: Ornstein, S.M., Crowther, W.R., Kraley, M.F., Bressler, R.D., Michel, A., and Heart, F.E. Pluribus-a reliable multiprocessor. AFIPS Conf. Proc., Vol. 44, 1975 NCC, AFIPS Press, Montvale, N.J., 1970, pp. 551-559.
• 25: Retz, D.L. Operating system design consideration for the packet switching environment. AFIPS Conf. Proc., Vol. 44, 1975. NCC, AFIPS Press, Montvale, N.J., 1970, pp. 155-160.
• 26: Roberts, L., and Wessler, B. Computer network development to achieve resource sharing. AFIPS Conf. Proc. Vol. 36, 1970 SJCC, AFIPS Press, Montvale, N.J., 1970, pp, 543-549.
• 27: Roberts, L. Capture effects on Aloha Channels. Proc. 6th Hawaii Conf. on System Sci., Jan. 1973.
• 28: Rowe, L.A. The distributed computing operating system. Tech. Rep. 66, Dep. of Information and Computer Sci. U. of California, Irvine, June 1975.
• 29: Rustin, R, (Ed.) Computer Networks (Proc. Courant Computer Sci. Symp. 3, December 1970), Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1970.
• 30: IBM synchronous data link control-general information. IBM Systems Development Div., Pub. Center, Research Triangle Park, N.C., 1974.
• 31: IBM system network architecture-general information. IBM Systems Development Div., Pub. Center, Research Triangle Part, N.C. 1975.
• 32: Thomas, R.H. A resourve sharing executive for the Arpanet. AFIPS Conf. Proc., vol. 42, 1973 NCC, AFIPS Press, Montvale, N.J., 1973, pp. 155-163.
• 33: J. E. Thornton, Design of a Computer—The Control Data 6600, Scott Foresman & Co, 1970
• 34: David C. Walden, A system for interprocess communication in a resource sharing computer network, Communications of the ACM, v.15 n.4, p.221-230, April 1972 [doi>10.1145/361284.361288]
• 35: Willard, D.G. Mitrix: A sophisticated digital cable communications system Proc. National Telecommunications Conf., Nov. 1973.
• 36: Wulf, W., and Levin, R. C.mmp-a multi-mini-processor, AFIPS Conf. Proc., Vol. 41, 1972 FJCC, AFIPS Press, Montvale, N.J., 1972.

INDEX TERMS

Keywords:
broadcast communication, computer networks, distributed computing, distributed control, multiprocessing, packet switching, statistical arbitration