Thoughts on Address Resolution for Dual MAC FDDI Networks

In this document an idea is submitted how IP and ARP can be used on inhomogeneous FDDI networks (FDDI networks with single MAC and dual MAC stations) by introducing a new protocol layer in the protocol suite of the dual MAC stations. Thus two dual MAC stations are able to do a load splitting across the two rings and use the double bandwidth of 200 Mbits/s as single MAC stations. The new layer is an extension of layer 3. For the user, the higher layer protocols, IP and ARP the property "dual MAC" is transparent. No modification is required in the protocol suite of single MAC stations and transparent bridges.