Overview of IEEE 802.1 Higher Layer LAN Protocols Working Group
The IEEE 802.1 Working Group is responsible for the development of standards and recommended methods in the areas of 802 LAN/MAN architecture, internetworking among 802 LANs, MANs and other wide area networks, 802 Security, 802 overall network management, and protocol layers above the MAC & LLC layers (Ieee802.org, 2016). Each Working Group comprises of charters which have some stated goals and tasks .These usually permanent and exist until they accomplish their goals. Currently, IEEE 802.1 Working Group comprises of following four subgroups:
Security: One of the projects is development of MAC security key agreement protocol (MKA) extensions (ADP). The group also produced recommended practice that identifies a privacy threat model for IEEE 802 technologies and recommends on how to protect against privacy threats.
Data Center Bridging: This group provides improvements to existing 802.1 bridge specifications to meet the requirements of protocols and applications in the data center.
OmniRAN: This group works on the project that will produce a Recommended Practice for deployment of IEEE802 technologies in an access networks. This will help to integrate the support of various interfaces and will enable shared network control.
Need of the IEEE 802 standard used in networking
Availability of low-cost interface is very important on the LAN market (Stallings, 2009). The purpose is to connect equipment to a LAN for much lesser price compared to the price of equipment itself. This demand summed with the complicated LAN logic lead to the need of solution based on the utilization of chips and very-large-scale integration (VLSI). Manufacturers of those chips can be compelled to commit required resources if there is a high-volume market. The rationale of the IEEE 802 network standard is to ensure this volume and make intercommunication between equipment of different manufacturers possible.
The IEEE committee realized that local network communication is complex and therefore, should be divided into subtasks. As a result, three-layer protocol hierarchy was organized which consists of Logical Link Control (LLC), medium access control (MAC), and physical. IEEE standards exist for wired local area network (WLAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), and wireless network. It also produced recommendation on the development of compatible devices. Such methods of Network Interface Controller (NIC) access and data transfer as connecting, maintaining, and disconnecting are also identified with IEEE 802. Overall, IEEE 802 is necessary for networking and still evolves with technological advancement.
Which is most important in communication technology: IEEE, ISO, or ANSI?
ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with 162 national standards bodies as its members. ISO develops standards in the area of data communication and networking with another organization, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) which is mostly works on developing standards for electrical and electronics engineering; IEC focuses on hardware and ISO on software. These two organizations created Joint Technical Committee 1 (JTC 1) in 1987 the purpose of which is to produce standard in the field of information technology and since then the committee developed standards for multimedia, IC cards, ICT security, programming languages and others (Stallings, 2009).
ANSI is an American organization which does not develop standards but accepts ones produced by other standards-developing organizations and companies after checking used procedures for meeting requirements for openness, balance, consensus, and due process (Ansi.org, 2016). ANSI cooperates with ISO for working on national standards that follow ISO’s international recommendations (What-when-how.com, 2016).
IEEE Standards Association develops standards as a part of US professional society, IEEE ("IEEE Standards in Communications and Networking", 2008). Most popular standards are created for LANs. IEEE standards contributed heavily to the area of data communication and networking. For example, IEEE 802.11 standards provide basis for wireless network devices using Wi-Fi technology.
In conclusion, the operations of described organizations are interconnected and enhance each other. ISO and IEEE establish standards while ANSI checks, accepts, and promotes them.
Taking a position on the need for a federal regulating body of standards such as NIST
NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency established in 1901 (Nist.gov, 2016). Its mission is to “promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life”. This agency contributes significantly to the development and use of standards. Standards programs are conducted in NIST’s Standards Coordination Office (SCO) the purpose of which is to provide industry with standards-related tools to create jobs, make incomes and improve quality.
Achievements and contribution of NIST show clearly there is a need for a federal regulatory organization such as NIST. However, there exist an opinion, that federal regulatory US system should be reformed because federal regulations spend much time, money, and other resourced to produce some result (Yilmaz, 1998). Even though NIST operation is beneficial there is a need to compare them with costs which are impossible to estimate correctly due to confidentiality and secrecy and poor accounting system. Therefore, it is suggested to involve third parties into the regulation system including standards development as it is less costly (costs can be easily tracked, no hidden costs) and more effective (less bureaucracy). Overall, involvement of private sector in the work of regulating body of standards such as NIST could further improve its effectiveness.
References:
Ansi.org,. (2016). About ANSI. Retrieved 12 January 2016, from https://goo.gl/893tU4
Ieee802.org,. (2016). LMSC, LAN/MAN Standards Committee (Project 802). Retrieved 12 January 2016, from http://www.ieee802.org/
IEEE Standards in Communications and Networking. (2008). IEEE Communications Magazine, 30-31.
Nist.gov,. (2016). NIST General Information. Retrieved 12 January 2016, from http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/general_information.cfm
Stallings, W. (2009). Business Data Communications. New Jersey: Pearson Education.
What-when-how.com,. (2016). Network Standards (Data Communications and Networking). Retrieved 12 January 2016, from http://goo.gl/paCP4A
Yilmaz, Y. (1998). Private Regulation: A Real Alternative for Regulatory Reform. Cato Policy Analysis, 303, 1-38.
