The NSFNET backbone network

ABSTRACT

The NSFNET Backbone Network interconnects six supercomputer sites, several regional networks and ARPANET. It supports the DARPA Internet protocol suite and DCN subnet protocols, which provide delay-based routing and very accurate time-synchronization services. This paper describes the design and implementation of this network, with special emphasis on robustness issues and congestion-control mechanisms.

REFERENCES

• BRA87: Braden, R. Requirements for Internet gateways. DARPA Network Working Group Report RFC-1009, USC Information Sciences Institute, June 1987.
• BER87: Dimitri Bertsekas , Robert Gallager, Data networks, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ, 1987
• CHA87: Chao, J. Weekly Throughput Summary for the BBN LSI-11 Gateways. Report distributed via electronic mail by Bolt Beranek Newman.
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• FED87: Fedor, M. Gated - network routing daemon. Unix manual description pages, Cornell University, 1987.
• HED87: Hedrick, C. Routing Information Protocol. DARPA Network Working Group Report (number to be assigned), Rutgers University, July 1987.
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• MIL83: Mills, D.L. DCN local-network protocols. DARPA Network Working Group Report RFC-891, M/A-COM Linkabit, December 1983.
• MIL84: Mills, D.L. Exterior Gateway Protocol formal specification. DARPA Network Working Group Report RFC-904, M/A-COM Linkabit, April 1984.
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• MIL85b: Mills, D.L. Network Time Protocol (NTP). DARPA Network Working Group Report RFC-958, M/A-COM Linkabit, September 1985,
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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.1 Network Architecture and Design
          Subjects: Distributed networks

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.3 Network Operations
          Subjects: Network management
      C.2.4 Distributed Systems
          Subjects: Distributed applications

General Terms:
Design