Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)

Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) is a set of ANSI and ISO

standards for transmission of data in local area network (LAN) over
fiber optic cables. It is applicable in large LANs that can extend up to
200 kilometers in diameter.
Features
 FDDI uses optical fiber as its physical medium.
 It operates in the physical and medium access control (MAC layer)
of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) network model.
 It provides high data rate of 100 Mbps and can support thousands
of users.
 It is used in LANs up to 200 kilometers for long distance voice and
multimedia communication.
 It uses ring based token passing mechanism and is derived from
IEEE 802.4 token bus standard.
 It contains two token rings, a primary ring for data and token
transmission and a secondary ring that provides backup if the
primary ring fails.
 FDDI technology can also be used as a backbone for a wide area
network (WAN).
The following diagram shows FDDI −
Frame Format
The frame format of FDDI is similar to that of token bus as shown in the
following diagram −
The fields of an FDDI frame are −
 Preamble: 1 byte for synchronization.
 Start Delimiter: 1 byte that marks the beginning of the frame.
 Frame Control: 1 byte that specifies whether this is a data frame
or control frame.
 Destination Address: 2-6 bytes that specifies address of
destination station.
 Source Address: 2-6 bytes that specifies address of source station.
 Payload: A variable length field that carries the data from the
network layer.
 Checksum: 4 bytes frame check sequence for error detection.
 End Delimiter: 1 byte that marks the end of the frame.
FDDI
FDDI stands for Fiber Distributed Data Interface. It is a high-speed, high-
bandwidth network based on optical transmissions. It is most often
used as a network backbone, for connecting high-end computers
(mainframes, minicomputers, and peripherals), and for LANs
connecting high-performance engineering, graphics, and other
workstations that demand a rapid transfer of large amounts of data. It
can transport data at a rate of 100 Megabits per second and can
support up to 500 stations on a single network. FDDI was designed to
run through fiber cables, transmitting light pulses to
convey information between stations, but it can also run on copper
using electrical signals. It is relatively expensive to implement, although
the mixing of fiber-optic with copper cabling can hold down the cost.
FDDI offers the following features:
• High transmission rates (100 Mbps) and bandwidth
• Real throughput rate (20 stations expected) of approx. 95 Mbps
• Large extensions (max. 100 km)
• Great node-to-node distance (2km using multimode fiber, 40 km
using single mode fiber)
• Available for both fiber and copper media
• Easier to maintain
• Compatible to standards-based components and various operating
systems.
Cabling Requirement
Optical fiber is the transmission medium of FDDI networks-but copper
media also can be used for standard office connections offering the
same transmission rates. In contrast to copper media, fiber provides
the best possible protection against physical network tapping and
offers immunity to electromagnetic interference. As its name indicates,
FDDI developed around the idea of using optical fiber cable. It is, in fact,
the type of cable used, especially when the high-speed transmission
needed over relatively long distances (2000 to 10,000 meters, or
roughly 1 to 6 miles). However, over shorter distances (about 100
meters, or 330 feet), FDDI can also be implemented on less expensive
copper cable.
In all, FDDI supports four different types of cable:
• Multimode fiber optic cable: This type of cable can be used over a
maximum of 2000 meters and uses LED as a light source.
• Single mode fiber optic cable: This can be used over a maximum of
10,000metres or more and uses lasers as a light source. Single mode
cable is thinner at the core than multimode, but it provides higher
bandwidth because of the way the light impulse travels through the
cable.
• Unshielded twisted-pair copper wiring: This cable contains eight
wires, and as the next category, can be used over distances up to 30
meters.
• Shielded twisted-pair copper wiring: This is a shielded cable that
contains two pairs of twisted wires, with each pair also shielded.
FDDI Topology
The FDDI network topology may view at two distinct levels.
• The physical level
• The logical level
Physical topology describes the arrangement and interconnection of
nodes with physical connections. The logical topology describes the
paths through the network between MAC entities. An FDDI network
forms one of the two following physical topologies:
• A dual ring of trees.
• A subset of a dual ring of trees.
FDDI uses a dual ring topology. The dual ring topology uses two
counter-rotating rings known as the primary and secondary ring. The
primary ring is similar to the main ring path in token-ring terminology.
The secondary ring is similar to the backup ring path of a token-ring.
Each ring consists of a single fiber path, which is equivalent to a pair of
copper conductors. FDDI topology permits many attachment units
(stations, concentrators, and bridges) to attach in various ways. From a
wiring point of view, FDDI is similar to a fiber optic token-ring network;
however, there are differences between the token-ring and FDDI
techniques. A device can be attached directly to the ring without
requiring a concentrator such as the Multi-station Access Unit (MAU)
on a token-ring. A device can be attached to either one or both of the
primary and secondary rings.
FDDI network
Generally, in an FDDI network, one ring (known as the primary ring)
carries the tokens and data frames, and the secondary ring remains idle
and uses as a backup for fault tolerance or insurance. Because the
secondary ring is available if needed, whenever a nonfunctioning node
causes a break in the primary ring, traffic ‘Q’ a “wrap” around the
problem causing node and continue to carrying data, only in the
opposite direction and on the secondary ring. That way, even if a node
goes down, the network continues to function. Of course, it is also
possible for two nodes to fail. When this happens, the wrap at both
locations effectively segments the one ring into two separate, non-
communicating rings. To avoid this potentially dangerous problem,
FDDI networks can rely on concentrators. These concentrators
resemble hubs or MAU in that multiple nodes plugs into them. They are
also able to isolate any failed nodes while keeping the network traffic
flowing. Sometimes, both rings use for data transfer. In this case, the
data travels in one direction (clockwise) on one ring and in the other
direction (counterclockwise) on the other ring. Using both rings to carry
data makes the number of frames twice that of the standard rate.
Hence, the speed of the network can double, from 100 Mbps to 200
Mbps.
Frame Format
An FDDI frame is very similar to that defined by the traditional token
ring, but there are only eight fields. The Token and frame format for the
FDDI shown in Figure (a) and (b), respectively. The Control token
structure is very much similar to the Token ring case.
Eight fields make up the FDDI frame. They are:
As you can see, the data token in FDDI is very similar to the token ring
data token we saw earlier. The access control byte or octet is missing.
Start Delimiter: The Start Delimiter of a token is an indicator of the
start of the token. It consists of the symbols ‘J’ and ‘K,’ and these
symbols not be seen anywhere else but at the start of a frame or token.
Frame Control: The frame control gives information about the type of
the token. A value of hexadecimal 80 in the frame control field denotes
a Non-restricted Token, while a frame control of hexadecimal CO is a
restricted token.
Destination Address: It is a 12-symbol code that indicates the identity
of the station to which the frame is to send. Each station has a unique
12-symbol address that identifies it. When a station receives a frame, it
compares the OA of that frame to its address if the two match, the
station copy the contents of the frame into its buffers.
The destination address can be an individual address or a group address
that depends on its first. If the first bit set to (1), the address is a group
address. If it set to (0), the address is an individual address. Group
addresses can be used to address a frame to multiple destination
stations. A broadcast address is a particular type of group address,
which applies to all of the stations on the network.
Source Address: This field indicates the address of the station that
created the frame. In FDDI, when a station creates a frame, the frame is
passed from one station to the next until it returns to the originating
station. The originating station removes the frame from the physical
medium.
Data: This field carries the actual information to be conveyed. Every
frame is mostly built around this field and is merely a mechanism for
getting the info from one station to another. The type of information
contained in the data field determined from the Frame Control of the
field of the frame.
Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC): CRC is used to verify whether the
incoming frame contains any bit errors. The FCS is generated by the
station that sourced the frame, using the bits of the FC, OA, SA, DATA
and CRC fields. The CRC generated such that, should any of the bits in
those fields be altered, then the receiving station notice that there is a
problem and discard the frame.
Ending Delimiter: This field consists of two ‘T’ symbols. These ‘T’
symbols indicate that the token is complete. Any data sequence that
does not end with these ‘T’ symbols is not considered a token.
Frame Status: The Frame Status consists of three indicators, which may
have one of two values set and reset. The three indicators are Error
(JE’), Address recognized (or Acknowledge) (‘N), and Copy (‘C).
FDDI Token Passing
Token passing on an FDDI network works much the way it does on a
Token Ring network, that is, nodes pass a token around the ring, and
only the node with the token is allowed to transmit a frame. There is a
twist to this. However, that is related to FDDI fault tolerance. When a
node on the ring detects a problem, it is not idle. Instead; it generates a
control frame known as a beacon and sends it on to the network. As
neighboring nodes detect the beacon, they too begin to transmit
beacons, and so it goes around the ring. When the node that started
the process, eventually receives its beacon back usually after the
network has switched to the secondary ring, it then assumes that the
problem has been isolated or resolved, generates a new token, and
starts the ball rolling once again.
Structure of a FDDI Network
An FDDI network, as already mentioned, cannot include rings longer
than 100 kilometers apart. Another restriction on an FDDI network is
that it cannot support more than SOD (nodes per ring. Although the
overall network topology must conform to a logical ring, the network
does not have to look like a circle. It can include stars connected to
hubs or concentrators, and it can even include trees collections of hubs
connected in a hierarchy. As long as the stars and trees connect in a
logical ring, the FDDI network does not face any problem.
Existing networks like Ethernet and Token Ring networks can integrate
via workgroup switches or routers into an FDDI backbone. Fileservers
should be connected directly to the FDDI backbone to reduce data load
and to provide reasonable access time for the user. The availability of
FDDI adapters for twisted-pair allows smooth migration of existing
cabling to FOOL High-End PC workstations with applications like CAD,
CIM, CAM, DTP, or image processing can be connected directly to the
FDDI ring via FDDI network interface cards and concentrators.