Gigabits to the Desktop: Installing tomorrow`s networks today

Conference · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:10130218

Kuhfuss, T C; Phillips, P T

Argonne is one of the US Department of Energy`s world class research institutions. Leading edge computing tools and networks allow Argonne to maintain and enhance this reputation. One current effort to deploy leading edge tools is the Argonne ``Gigabits to the Desktop`` project. While the delivering and using gigabits to the desktop is little more than a hope at this time, this paper will discuss the hurdles to achieving it and how to tear down as many hurdles as possible. Under this project, four distinct areas are being investigated and enhanced. This paper will discuss briefly the applications and tools that we see driving the requirement for gigabits to the desktop. It will touch on a functional description of our``ideal`` workstations, architectures and the candidates for the next generation network capable of delivering gigabits. Lastly, it will provide an in-depth analysis of physical layer options and attempt to prove that this area, while the least risky, must be done properly, with the proper media. This paper assumes one important point. It assumes that bandwidth is essentially free. We will discuss network architectures and physical installation recommendations which have a fixed cost. However on a campus, there is no marginal cost for additional packets on these networks once the network infrastructure is installed. This point is important when extrapolating our conclusions to the wide area. The marginal cost of a packet sent to a commercial network is usually non zero. This fact may prove to be a great hindrance in migrating the applications mentioned beyond the organizational boundaries.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 10130218
• Report Number(s): ANL/ECT/CP--82125; CONF-940377--1; ON: DE94007701
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200
COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
COMPUTER NETWORKS
EQUIPMENT INTERFACES
FIBER OPTICS
MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTERS
PERSONAL COMPUTERS