Link Layer

EEE3080F ♦ 5.1 Introduction and services

Communication Network and System Fundamentals ♦ 5.2 Error detection and correction
http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/commnetwork/eee3080
♦ 5.3 Multiple access protocols
Web
♦ 5.4 Link-Layer Addressing User hosts Server

ROUTER
♦ 5.5 Ethernet Internet
H Anthony Chan; Yang Li LAN
♦ 5.6 Hubs and switches
h.a.chan@ieee.org; yli@crg.ee.uct.ac.za
♦ 5.7 PPP User hosts
http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/commnetwork/achan.html
♦ 5.8 Link Virtualization: ATM and MPLS
Department of Electrical Engineering
University of Cape Town

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Hubs Interconnecting with hubs

♦ Hubs are essentially physical-layer repeaters: ♦ Backbone hub interconnects LAN segments
¾bits coming from one link go out all other links ♦ Extends max distance between nodes
♦ But individual segment collision domains become one
¾at the same rate
large collision domain
¾no frame buffering ♦ Can’t interconnect 10BaseT & 100BaseT
¾no CSMA/CD at hub: adapters detect collisions
¾provides net management functionality Backbone hub

twisted pair hub

hub hub
hub

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 Interconnected Ethernets example Hubs

Backbone hub ♦ Each connected LAN referred to as LAN segment

♦ Hubs do not isolate collision domains: node may
collide with any node residing at any segment in
LAN
♦ Hub Advantages:
10BaseT hub
10BaseT hub ¾simple, inexpensive device
10BaseT hub
¾Multi-tier provides graceful degradation: portions
of the LAN continue to operate if one hub
malfunctions
Electrical Computer Systems ¾extends maximum distance between node pairs
Engineering Science Engineering (100m per Hub)
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Hub limitations Switch

♦ single collision domain results in no increase in ♦ Link layer device

max throughput ¾stores and forwards Ethernet frames
¾multi-tier throughput same as single segment ¾examines frame header and selectively forwards
throughput frame based on MAC dest address
♦ individual LAN restrictions pose limits on number of ¾when frame is to be forwarded on segment, uses
nodes in same collision domain and on total CSMA/CD to access segment
allowed geographical coverage ♦ transparent
♦ cannot connect different Ethernet types (e.g., ¾hosts are unaware of presence of switches
10BaseT and 100baseT)
♦ plug-and-play, self-learning
¾switches do not need to be configured
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 Forwarding Self learning

Switch ♦ A switch has a switch table

1 ♦ entry in switch table:
2 3 ¾(MAC Address, Interface, Time Stamp)
hub hub
hub ¾stale entries in table dropped (TTL can be 60
min)
♦ switch learns which hosts can be reached through
which interfaces
♦ How do determine onto which LAN segment to forward ¾when frame received, switch “learns” location of
frame? sender: incoming LAN segment
♦ Looks like a routing problem... ¾records sender/location pair in switch table

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Switch example
Filtering/Forwarding
Suppose C sends frame to D
When switch receives a frame: ♦ Switch receives frame from C
¾notes in switch table that C is on interface 1
index switch table using MAC dest address
if entry found for destination
¾because D is not in table, switch floods frame to
then{ both interfaces 2 and 3
if dest on segment from which frame arrived ♦ frame received by D
then drop the frame
else forward the frame on interface indicated Switch address interface
} 1 A 1
hub 2 3 hub
else flood B 1
hub
forward on all but the interface D E 2
on which the frame arrived F
A G G 3
B C E H I
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 Switch example
Interconnection Without Backbone
Suppose D replies back with frame to C
♦ Switch receives frame from D ♦ Not recommended for two reasons:
¾notes in bridge table that D is on interface 2 ¾single point of failure at Computer Science hub
¾because C is in table, switch forwards frame only ¾all traffic between EE and SE must path over CS
to interface 1 segment
♦ frame received by C

Switch address interface hub Switch hub Switch hub

1 A 1
hub 2 3 hub
B 1
hub
D E 2
F Electrical Engineering Computer Science Systems Engineering
A G G 3
B C E H I
C 1
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Switches Spanning Tree Switch: traffic isolation

♦ for increased reliability, desirable to have ♦ switch installation breaks subnet into LAN
redundant, alternate paths from source to dest segments
♦ with multiple simultaneous paths, cycles result - ♦ switch filters packets:
switches may multiply and forward frame forever ¾same-LAN-segment frames not usually
♦ solution: organize switches in a spanning tree by forwarded onto other LAN segments
disabling subset of interfaces ¾segments become separate collision domains
Switch
Disabled
Computer hub collision
hub
Science hub domain
Electrical
Systems
Engineering
Engineering collision domain collision domain
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 Switches: dedicated access More on Switches

♦ Switch with many A ♦ cut-through switching: frame forwarded from input

interfaces B to output port without first collecting entire frame
♦ Hosts have direct C’
connection to switch
¾slight reduction in latency
♦ No collisions; full duplex ♦ combinations of shared/dedicated, 10/100/1000
Mbps interfaces
Switch
♦ Switching: A-to-A’ and B-
to-B’ simultaneously, no
collisions C
B’
A’

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Institutional network Switches vs. Routers

♦ both store-and-forward devices
¾ routers: network layer devices (examine network layer
to mail server headers)
external ¾ switches are link layer devices
network web server ♦ routers maintain routing tables, implement routing
Switch algorithms
IP subnet ♦ switches maintain switch tables, implement filtering, learning
algorithms

hub Application Application

hub hub Transport Transport
Network Network Network
♦ Data link link link Data link
Physical pHy pHy Physical
Host Switch Router Host
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 Routers vs. Switches Routers vs. Switches
Switches + and - Routers + and -
♦ + Switch operation is simpler requiring less ♦ + arbitrary topologies can be supported, cycling is
processing bandwidth limited by TTL counters (and good routing protocols)
♦ - Topologies are restricted with switches: a ♦ + provide firewall protection against broadcast
spanning tree must be built to avoid cycles storms
♦ - Switches do not offer protection from broadcast ♦ - require IP address configuration (not plug and
storms (endless broadcasting by a host will be play)
forwarded by a bridge) ♦ - require higher processing bandwidth

♦ switches do well in small (few hundred hosts) while

routers used in large networks (thousands of hosts)

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Summary comparison

EEE3080F
Communication Network and System Fundamentals
Hubs Switches Routers
Traffic isolation No Yes Yes Make me an instrument of your peace.
Plug and play Yes Yes No
(Prayer of St. Francis of Assissi)
Optimal routing No No Yes
Cut through yes yes No

© 2003-2007

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