RFC 1390 (rfc1390) - Page 2 of 11

Transmission of IP and ARP over FDDI Networks

RFC 1390                      IP Over FDDI                  January 1993


Introduction

   The goal of this specification is to allow compatible and
   interoperable implementations for transmitting IP datagrams [1] and
   ARP requests and replies [2].

   The Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) specifications define a
   family of standards for Local Area Networks (LANs) that provides the
   Physical Layer and Media Access Control Sublayer of the Data Link
   Layer as defined by the ISO Open System Interconnection Reference
   Model (ISO/OSI).  Documents are in various stages of progression
   toward International Standardization for Media Access Control (MAC)
   [4], Physical Layer Protocol (PHY) [5], Physical Layer Medium
   Dependent (PMD) [6], and Station Management (SMT) [7].  The family of
   FDDI standards corresponds to the IEEE 802 MAC layer standards [8, 9,
   10].

   The remainder of the Data Link Service is provided by the IEEE 802.2
   Logical Link Control (LLC) service [11].  The resulting stack of
   services appears as follows:

        +-------------+
        |   IP/ARP    |
        +-------------+
        |  802.2 LLC  |
        +-------------+-----+
        |  FDDI MAC   | F   |
        +-------------+ D S |
        |  FDDI PHY   | D M |
        +-------------+ I T |
        |  FDDI PMD   |     |
        +-------------+-----+

   This memo describes the use of IP and ARP in this environment.  At
   this time, it is not necessary that the use of IP and ARP be
   consistent between FDDI and IEEE 802 networks, but it is the intent
   of this memo not to preclude Data Link Layer interoperability at such
   time as the standards define it.

   It is the explicit intent of this memo to allow the interoperability
   of IP and ARP between stations on FDDI networks and stations on
   Ethernet networks via translational bridges.

   The FDDI standards define both single and dual MAC stations.  This
   document describes the use of IP and ARP on single MAC stations
   (single-attach or dual-attach) only.





Katz