Animated simulations of media access protocols in local area networks

Three tools for the graphical simulation of media access protocols are presented. The media access protocols concerned are CSMA/CD (Ethernet, IEEE 802.3), FDDI (IEEE 802.5) and DQDB (IEEE 802.6). The object of the tools is to explain the principle of the protocols by using graphics and motion-pictures on a computer display. Several states of the systems can be modelled, for example collisions (CSMA/CD) or link faults (FDDI). In the case of CSMA/CD and DQDB, it is also possible for the programs to carry out a simulation with the evaluation of performance aspects.<
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