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Description / Abstract:
For the purpose of compatible interconnection of data processing
equipment using the IEEE 802 MAC Service supported by
interconnected IEEE 802 Standard Local Area Networks using
different or identical Media Access Control methods, this standard
specifies a general method for the operation of MAC Bridges. To
this end it
(1) Positions the bridging function within an architectural
description of the MAC Sublayer.
(2) Defines the principles of operation of the MAC Bridge in
terms of the support and preservation of the MAC Service, and the
maintenance of Quality of Service.
(3) Specifies the MAC Internal Sublayer Service provided by
individual LANs to the Media Access Method Independent Functions
that provide frame relay in the Bridge.
(4) Identifies the functions to be performed by Bridges, and
provides an architectural model of the internal operation of a
Bridge in terms of Processes and Entities that provide those
functions.
(5) Establishes the requirements for a protocol between the
Bridges in a Bridged Local Area Network to configure the network,
and specifies the distributed computation of a Spanning Tree active
topology.
(6) Specifies the encoding of the Bridge Protocol Data Units
(BPDUs).
(7) Establishes the requirements for Bridge Management in the
Bridged Local Area Network, identifying the managed objects and
defining the management operations.
(8) Specifies how the management operations are made available
to a remote manager using the protocol and architectural
description provided by IEEE Std 802.1B [3].
(9) Specifies performance requirements and recommends default
values and applicable ranges for the operational parameters of a
Bridge.
(10) Specifies the requirements to be satisfied by equipment
claiming conformance to this standard.
(11) Specifies criteria for the use of MAC-specific bridging
methods.
This standard specifies the operation of MAC Bridges that attach
directly to LANs as specified in the relevant MAC standards for the
MAC technology or technologies implemented. Though not part of the
IEEE 802 or ISO 8802 series LAN standards, the Fibre Distributed
Data Interface (FDDI) token ring, described in the ISO 9314 series
of standards, can be considered an equivalent MAC. Unless indicated
otherwise, mention in this standard of 802 LANs includes FDDI.
The specification of Remote Bridges, which interconnect LANs
using Wide Area Network (WAN) media for the transmission of frames
between Bridges, is outside the scope of this standard.