Upgrading and Repairing Networks

Chapter 12. The IEEE LAN/MAN Committee Networking Standards

SOME OF THE MAIN TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER ARE

What Is the LAN/MAN Committee? 189

Obtaining the IEEE 802 Standards Documents Free 193

The key to enabling networking products from different manufacturers to work together is standards. For software products (including network protocols and applications), standards usually define functionality and the interfaces that expose the product to the world of interoperability. For hardware products (such as routers and switches), standards do pretty much the same, but they can also encompass physical components, such as how signaling is done on the wire and which types of network media can be used. In this chapter you will learn about standards established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE). This nonprofit organization is responsible for many of the networking standards that are in use today on both local and wide area networks, as well the Internet. The IEEE uses committees to work on each area of standardization. The most relevant committees involved in networking are discussed in this chapter.

At the time of this writing, there are almost 900 standards created (or refined) by the IEEE that are in widespread use. Approximately 700 others are in development. Note that although the IEEE is responsible for creating some standards from scratch, this organization has also been responsible for standardizing technology that was developed by other manufacturers. By taking input from existing de facto standards and casting the technology in print, the IEEE benefits both manufacturers and end users alike.

Several steps are taken to create a standard (or set of standards) within the IEEE:

• Project Authorization Request (PAR) The PAR is the beginning of the standardization process. It defines the scope of the new standard as well as its purpose and contacts for individuals who will be responsible for the standard. There is an online form that can be used to begin the process that states the proposed name of the draft document as well as the type of project and contact information. A sponsor (which can be an individual or an organization) is set forth in the PAR.

• Creating a Draft Using templates provided by the IEEE, a draft of the standard is first created. This draft is then submitted to a balloting process in which input is solicited to make changes to or approve the draft document. The draft is then submitted to the IEEE-SA Standards Board, which reviews the documentation and then publishes it for review by others. Note that a draft is just thatit is not a final standard. It is just the first iteration of the standards process.

• Standards The next step is to submit the document to the IEEE Standards Department for approval. The procedures involved in this step are many, and it can take some time before the standard is officially approved. For example, the IEEE may send an application to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for its approval.

• Publication After the standard has gone through these processes, it is published as a standard so that manufacturers (and other interested parties) can begin using it.

This is just a general explanation of the standards approval process. In fact, there are many forms to be filled out, many conditions that must be met. The process involves meetings of the working group and constant feedback to gather the information from the various parties to ensure that the final standard is a workable document. The important thing to remember from this is that standards are not created by just a single person or manufacturer. Instead, the proposed drafts are subject to intense scrutiny, and all aspects of the draft can be subject to modification before a final standard is produced. As if that were not enough, it is common to see many established standards modified to keep up with the ever-changing world of technology today.