Performance Comparison of High-Speed Multiple-Access Networks

We analyze the performance of two popular high-speed multiple- access networks standards, the Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) and the Distributed Queue Dual Bus (DQDB). These network standards are strong contenders for next-generation Local Area Networks (LANs) and Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs). The objective of this paper is to evaluate and compare the performance of FDDI and DQDB according to their effect on end-user perceived performance, and to provide an understanding of the fundamental differences between the two technologies. The paper briefly describes the two protocols, compares their band-width efficiency, delay performance and fairness with respect to delay and bandwidth allocation, and describe applications that benefit from the characteristics of each protocol. We show the importance of traffic characteristics on the performance of either protocols and we describe the relevant factors when characterizing traffic for data applications.