The authors begin with a discussion of the criteria for evaluating wide-area networks (WANs) used to interconnect remote bridges. Then they assess various WANs, point out the advantages of frame relaying, and describes this experience with operating implementation interconnecting token-rings via a prototype frame relay. The quality of a bridge service is considered to be the quality of MAC (media access control) service as seen by end-stations on different LANs that are bridged either directly by a single bridge or indirectly via multiple bridges and associated LANs. It depends critically on the route (which is dependent on the network topology) between the source and destination LANs and the quality of service provided by the individual brides and, in the case of remote bridges, WANs along the route.
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