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From: pat@hprnd.rose.hp.com (Pat Thaler)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: 10BASE-T Specs
Message-ID: <2230126@hprnd.rose.hp.com>
Date: 5 Nov 90 17:33:32 GMT
References: <2885@unccvax.uncc.edu>
Organization: HP Roseville Networks Division
Lines: 53

> >In the interim before IEEE has 10BASE-T in publication, you can order a
> >copy of the final draft (draft 11) from AlphGraphics.  It is
> >IEEE 802 Document 3.17 P802.3I/D11-90: 10BASE-T Draft 11.

I have been informed that since IEEE 802.3i is now a standard but not yet
published, you should order it from:

  IEEE Standards, 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08855, ph: (800)678-4333

I was told that a charge would be made for the reproduction and mailing
cost.  Once published, it can be ordered from IEEE Sales at the same
street address and phone.  IEEE 802.3i should be enough to identify
which document you want.  If you already have draft 9 or 10, I reccomend
that you wait for the published version since there were only editorial
changes between drafts 9, 10, and 11.

As another poster pointed out, IEEE holds the copyright and gets to
control the distribution.  Prior to approval by the standards board,
distribution of IEEE 802 drafts is done through AlphaGraphics, after
approval it is done directly by IEEE.
> 
> While on the subject of standards, do you know if there are any
> standards efforts underway for Ethernet hubs?  

There is already a standard for the behavior of IEEE 802.3 repeaters which 
is what most of the devices sold as hubs are.  This covers the behavior of
the repeater with respect to the 802.3 segments connected to it.  That is,
how long it takes to transmit a received packet out the other ports, how
collisions are enforced, restoration of preamble, etc.  It does not cover
aspects such as the form of the repeater, whether it is box or a card
cage with plug in modules.  My personal opinion is that it would not be
appropriate for IEEE 802.3 to attempt to standardize that.

The current repeater standard also does not cover management for 
hubs/repeaters.  There is a task force of IEEE 802.3 which is working 
on a hub management draft so that repeaters could have interoperable 
management.  The hub management task force currently has a draft out 
for IEEE 802.3 ballot.  Gazing into the crystal ball that was issued
to me when I accepted this job:-), I expect that another IEEE 802.3
ballot or at least a confirmation ballot will be needed before they
are ready for sponsor ballot.

(If you have the second edition (1990) of ISO/IEC 8802-3 [IEEE 802.3], 
you will find the repeater standard in section 9.  It can also be found 
as 802.3c in the _Supplements_to_802.3_CSMA/CD_.  Beware, the first 
edition of ISO/IEC 8802-3 and the pre-ISO printings of IEEE 802.3 had 
a tentative version of section 9 which is not entirely accurate.  The
obsolete version of section 9 describes a 2-port repeater, the current
version describes an multi-ported repeater.  (One of the interesting
challenges in drafting it was to come up with notation to describe
the behavior of an n-ported device.))

Pat Thaler