1. Introduction

1.1

Overview

1.1.1

Basic Concepts

The Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) media access method is the means by which two or more stations share a common transmission medium. To transmit, a station waits (defers) for a quiet period on the medium (that is, no other station is transmitting) and then sends the intended message in bit-serial form. If, after initiating a transmissi on, the message collides with that of another station, then each transmitting station intentionally sends a few additional bytes to ensure propagation of the collision throughout the system. The station remains silent for a random amount of time (backoff) before attempting to transmit again. Each aspect of this access method process is specified in detail in subsequent sections of this standard.

This is a comprehensive standard for Local Area Networks employing CSMA/CD as the access method. This standard is intended to encompass several media types and techniques for signal rates of from 1 Mb/s to 20 Mb/s. This edition of the standard provides the necessary specifications for 10 Mb/s baseband and broadband systems, a 1 Mb/s baseband system, and a Repeater Unit.

1.1.2

Architectural Perspectives There are two important ways to view local area network design corresponding to

(1) Architecture. Emphasizing the logical divisions of the system and how they fit together. (2) Implementation. Emphasizing actual components, their packaging and interconnection.

This standard is organized along architectural lines, emphasizing the large-scale separation of the system into two parts: the Media Access Control (MAC) sublayer of the Data Link Layer, and the Physical Layer. These layers are intended to corres pond closely to the lowest layers of the ISO Model for Open Systems Interconnection. See ISO 7498:1984. The Logical Link Control (LLC) sublayer and MAC sublayer together encompass the functions intended for the Data Link Layer as defined in the OSI model.

1.1.2.1

An architectural organization of the standard has two main advantages:

(1) Clarity. A clean overall division of the design along architectural lines makes the standard clearer. (2) Flexibility. Segregation of medium-dependent aspects in the Physical Layer allows the LLC and MAC sublayers to apply to a family of transmission media.

Partitioning the Data Link Layer allows various media access methods within the family of Local Area Network standards.

The architectural model is based on a set of interfaces that may be different from those emphasized in implementations. One critical aspect of the design, however, shall be addressed largely in terms of the implementation interfaces: compatibility.

1.1.2.2 Two important compatibility interfaces are defined within what is architecturally the Physical Layer.

(1) Medium-Dependent Interface (MDI). To communicate in a compatible manner, all stations shall adhere rigidly to the exact specification of physical media signals defined in Section 8 (and beyond) in this standard, and to the procedures that define correct behaviour of a station. The medium-independent aspects of the LLC sublayer and the MAC sublayer should not be taken as detracting from this point; communication by way of the ISO 8802-3 [IEEE 802.3] Local Area Network requires complete compatibility at the Physical Medium interface (that is, the coaxial cable interface).

(2) Attachment Unit Interface (AUI). It is anticipated that most DTEs will be located some distance from their connection to the coaxial cable. A small amount if circuitry will exist in the Medium Attachment Unit (MAU) directly adjacent to the coaxial cable, while the majority of the hardware and all the software will be placed within the DTE. The AUI is defind as a second compatibility interface. While conformance with this interface is not strictly necessary to ensure communication, it is highly recommended, since it allows maximum flexibility in intermixing MAUs and DTEs. The AUI may be optional or not specified for some implementations of this standard that are expected to be connected directly to the medium and so do not use a separate MAU or its interconnecting AUI cable. The PLS and PMA are then part of a single unit, and no explicit AUI specification is required.

1.1.3 Layer Interfaces In the architectural model used here, the layers interact by way of well defined interfaces, providing services as specified in Sections 2 and 6. In general, the interface requirements are as follows: (1) The interface between the MAC sublayer and the LLC sublayer includes facilities for transmitting and receiving frames, and provides per-operation status information for use by higher- layer error recovery procedures. (2) The interface between the MAC sublayer and the Physical Layer includes signals for framing (carrier sense, transmit initiation) and contention resolution (collision detect), facilities for passing a pair of serial bit streams (transmit, receive) between the two layers, and a wait function for timing.

These interfaces are described more precisely in 4.3. Additional interfaces are necessary to allow higher level network management facilities to interact with these layers to perform operation, maintenance, and planning functions. Network management functions will be discussed in Section 5.

1.1.4

Application Areas The applications environment for the Local Area Network is intended to be commercial and light industrial. Use of CSMA/CD LANs in home or heavy industrial environments, while not precl uded, is not considered within the scope of this standard.