ABSTRACT
To aid the data center operations manager in keeping up with rapidly changing technologies, this chapter examines the key advances in communications in the context of corporate networking and applications requirements. It also examines developments in: optical fiber, cellular digital packet data, T1 and T3, X.25 frame relay, integrated services digital network, switched multimegabit data services, asynchronous transfer mode, synchronous optical network, and fiber distributed data interface. One of the most promising local-loop upgrade technologies is asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL). This technology allows for the transmission of more than 6M bps over existing twisted-pair copper wiring. An alternative to ADSL is high bit-rate digital subscriber line technology, which uses two full duplex pairs, each operating at 784K bps. This technology is an electronic technology for conditioning lines for heavy data usage without the use of repeaters over distances of up to 12,000 feet from the central office.
