Structured Backbone

Design
of Computer Networks

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 Structured Backbone Design
of Computer Networks

Department of Computer Engineering

College of Computer Sciences & Engineering
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Computer Networks -- February 17 - 21, 2001

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 Enterprise Networks
 An Enterprise Networks is an
interconnected collection of Local Area
Networks (LANs).
» Several LANs
– Hubs, Chassis Hubs, Stackable Hubs, Bridges,
(Workgroup) Switches
– Horizontal cabling
» Backbone
– Core routers and switches
– Vertical cabling

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 Structured Networks

 A Enterprise Network should be

» Logically structured
– Has a layered communication structure: Local
access layer, distribution layer, and backbone
layer.

» Physically structured
– Topology is a hierarchical tree, with the
backbone at the root of the tree.

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 Logically Structured Networks
 Local Access Layer
» Provides most convenient network access to the
users.
 Distribution Layer
» Provides policy-based network access to the
workgroup. This is where packet manipulation
takes place.
 Backbone Layer
» Provides high-speed seamless transport of data
among the workgroups.

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 Enterprise Network Example

Token Ring
Ethernet

Backbone Router

Backbone

Ethernet Hub

Ethernet

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 Layer 3 Forwarding Requirement

 Number of subnets x Subnet speed x

Percent of inter-subnet traffic

 Example:
» 50 x 100 Mbps x 0.2 = 1 Gbps

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 Structured Backbones

 Modern organizations have

» Large networks
» Complex communication requirements
– Access to mainframe data
– Internetworking of several LANs
– Connectivity to a WAN (the Internet)
– Transmission of data and non-data

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 Backbone Basics

 Complex requirements mandated the

structuring of enterprise-wide information
distribution.
 Such structuring is effectively achieved
through a system called Backbone.
 Structured wiring combined with
Backbone solution provide a powerful
and efficient networking solution to
company-wide communication needs.
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 Backbone Basics (Contd.)

 Key Factors in assessing network

topologies:
» Performance
– Highest network availability.
– Lowest latency.
– Most appropriate connectivity for users.
» Scalability
– Ability to expand the network in terms of end-
points and aggregate bandwidth without
affecting existing users.
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 Backbone Basics (Contd.)

» Cost of administration:
– The inherent ease of moves, adds, and
changes, plus the capability to efficiently
diagnose, remedy, or prevent network outages.
 Structured Backbone solutions offer
» Flexibility
» Scalability
» Troubleshooting & Manageability
» Performance

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 Structured Cabling
 Cabling plan should be easy to:
» implement, and
» accommodates future growth.

 Two standards have been issued that

specify cabling types and layout for
structured commercial buildings wiring.

 A network should follow a cabling plan:

» Selection of cable types
» Cable layout topology

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Structured Cabling Standards

 EIA/TIA-568: Issued jointly by the

Electronic Industries Association and the
Telecommunications Industry Assoc.

 ISO 11801: Issued by the International

Organization for Standardization.

 Both Standards are similar.

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 Structured Cabling (Cont.)

 It is a generic wiring scheme with the

following characteristics:
» Wiring within a commercial building.
» Cabling to support all forms of information
transfer.
» Cable selection and layout is independent of
vendor and end-user equipment.
» Cable layout designed to encompass
distribution to all work areas within the
building (relocation wouldn’t need rewiring).

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 Structured Cabling (Cont.)

 Based on the use of a hierarchical star-

wired cable layout.
» External cables terminate at Equipment
Room (ER).
» Patch panel and cross-connect hardware
connect ER to Internal Distribution Cable.
» Typically, first level of distribution consists of
Backbone cables.
» Backbone cable(s) run from ER to Telecom
Closets (Wiring Closets) on each floor.

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 Structured Cabling (Contd.)

» Wiring Closet contains cross-connect

equipment for interconnecting cable on a
single floor to the Backbone.

 Cable distributed on a single floor is

called Horizontal Cabling, and connects
the Backbone to Wall Outlets that
service individual telephone and data
equipment.

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 Structured Cabling (Cont.)
 Based on the use of a hierarchical star-
wired cable layout.
Telecom.
Horizontal Closet
Cable

Work Backbone
Equipment
Area Room

External
Cable
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 Structured Cabling Terminology

Backbone
A facility between telecommunications
closets or floor distribution terminals, the
entrance facilities, and the equipment
rooms within or between buildings
Horizontal Cabling
The wiring/cabling between the telecom
outlet and the horizontal cross-connect

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 Terminology (Cont.)

Cross-Connect
A facility enabling the termination of cable
elements & their interconnection, and/or
cross-connection, primarily by means of a
patch cord or jumper
Equipment Room
A centralized space for telecom equip.t
that serves the occupants of the building
(Bldg/Campus distributor in ISO 11801)
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 Terminology (Cont.)

Telecommunications Closet:
An enclosed space for housing telecom
equip.t, cable terminations, and cross-
connect cabling; the location for cross-
connection between the backbone and
horizontal facilities
Work Area
A building space where the occupants
interact with the telecom terminal equip.t
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 Terminology (Cont.)

Main Cross-Connect
A cross-connect between 1st and 2nd
level backbone cables, entrance cables,
and equipment cables (no ISO name)
Intermediate Cross-Connect
A cross-connect between 1st and 2nd
level backbone cabling (no ISO name)

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 Terminology (Cont.)

Horizontal Cross-Connect:
A cross-connect of horizontal cabling to
other cabling, e.g. horizontal, backbone,
or equipment (no ISO name)
Telecommunications Outlet
A connecting device in the work area on
which horizontal cable terminates

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 Media Recommended

Telecomm. D Horizontal A Main

Outlet Cross-connect Cross-connect
C
Telecomm. D Horizontal B Intermediate
Outlet Cross-connect Cross-connect

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 Cable Distances
 UTP (Voice Transmission)
MC-HC HC-IC MC-IC TO-HC
A B C D
800m 500m 300m90m

 Cat 3 or 5 UTP (up-to 16 or 100 MHz),

and STP (up-to 300 MHz)
A B C D
90m 90m 90m 90m

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 Cable Distances (Contd.)
 62.5 microns Fiber
MC-HC HC-IC MC-IC TO -HC
A B C D
2000m 500m 1500m 90m

 Single-Mode Fiber
A B C D
3000m 500m 2500m 90m

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Unstructured Backbone -- Mainframe

...
... .. Terminals
.
Cluttered
and noisy
cable risers
...

Mainframe
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 Unstructured Backbone -- LAN

Each station must be physically connected by a thick coax

tapped to the LAN coax, running by all stations.

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 Structured Backbone

 By using a MUX or similar device, a

backbone can be structured.
» A single fiber pair replaces mounds of coax
cable, and
» floor-to-floor traffic is systematically
organized.
 With Structure comes enhanced
» network control
» reliability, and
» efficiency.
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 Structured Backbone (Contd.)

 Structured backbone = structured,

hierarchical physical star wiring scheme.

MUX

MUX

MUX

Mainframe
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 Structured Backbone(Contd.)

 The first information backbone emerged

in the mid 1980’s.

 An enterprise backbone is an aggregate

data path (a central communication
highway) for the transport of all signals
to / from users distributed throughout the
enterprise.

 Early backbones were mainly muxes.

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 Structured Backbone(Contd.)

 The enterprise network is usually

comprised of three main parts:
» The horizontal access portion:
Connecting individual workstations to wiring
closets and most often accomplished via an
intelligent cabling Hub.
» The Backbone portion:
Facilitating floor-to-floor or building-to-building
connectivity.

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 Structured Backbone (Contd.)

» The Wide Area Network link

Horizontal
access
Backbone

WAN
Interface

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 When are Backbones needed?

 Companies utilizing Backbone technology

have typically one or more of the following
communication needs:
» Multiple data protocols and signals.
» Heavy network traffic to be supported
simultaneously.
» Multiple work-groups, networks, and facilities
that need to be internetworked.
» Mission critical applications where high
reliability and security are mandatory.
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When are Backbones needed? (Contd.)

» Need to support varying media and device

types.

» A high degree of upgrade-ability, so that

existing equipment can be preserved and
higher performance hardware and software
solutions can be implemented seamlessly.

» A high degree of network moves, adds, and

changes, requiring that the enterprise
network be highly manageable.
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Types of (private) Backbones
Three broad categories:
(1) Multiplexers-based.

(2) LAN Backbones.

FDDI, Ethernet, Token Ring, etc

(3) Collapsed Backbones.

High-speed Router, Switches, ATM.

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 Backbone Topologies

 Star
» Collapsed Backbone

» PBX system

» Switch-based networks

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 Backbone Topologies (Contd.)

 Ring.
» Ex: FDDI.

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 Backbone Topologies (Contd.)

 Hierarchical/Inverse Tree.
Higher power at higher levels.

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 Backbone Topologies (Contd.)

 Mesh.
Multiple data paths between peer stations.
Topology relies on the use of Routers.

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 Backbone Benefits
+ Makes complex distributed computing
environment easier to manage.
+ Allows Organizations to easily upgrade
the system.
+ Creates an integrated communication
path capable of accommodating the
enterprise’s data transfer requirements
safely and cost effectively.

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 Fiber Optics
 Many of the Backbone advantages are
enabled by the implementation of fiber.

 Advantages of fiber:
+ Ability to combine data, voice & video
signals over a single fiber pair.
+ Very large bandwidth: (allows large number
of users, is cost effective and space-
conservative).
+ Increased data security & reliability.
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 Fiber in the Backbone

 All Backbone solutions are based on the

use of fiber because fiber:
» Forms the bases for all future Backbone
migrations.
» Enables network managers to extend the
life of their cabling plants.
» Enables the network to easily migrate to
better technology (network application
software or network hardware).

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 Application / Bandwidth
 High capacity Backbone is a must to
support increasing need for bandwidth.
Application Bandwidth
Digital audio 1.4 Mbps
Compressed video (JPEG) 2 - 10 Mbps
Document Reprographics 20 -100 Mbps
Compressed broadcast-quality TV 20 -100 Mbps
High-definition full motion video 1-2 Gbps
Chest X-Ray 4 - 40 Mbps
Remote query burst 1 Mbps

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 Get Connected
 Use your mouse
 Use your phone
 Use your car
 Select the best
speed (Can be a
Turtle!)

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