Data link level interconnection of remote Fiber Distributed Data Interface Local Area Networks (FDDI LANs) through the Critical Data Link (CDL)

Abstract

This thesis deals with the features and performance of a network interface device to interconnect two remote Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) Local Area Networks (LANs) through the Critical Data Link (CDL) which is a full-duplex, jam-resistant, point-to-point microwave communications system for use in imagery and signals intelligence collection systems. In particular, OPNET, a commercially available network engineering tool is used to model a medium access level remote bridge interface connecting two LANs. The effectiveness of two different load balancing techniques used to distribute traffic over the multiple channels of the CDL has been studied. Also, the effect of different jamming patterns on the bit error rate seen by the users has been studied