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    TinyBridge in the Satellite Environment (Part of RAD’s Ethernet Direct Solution)

     Typical users
    - Satellite modem vendors
    - Satellite system integrators
    - Satellite service providers
    - Corporations with multiple remote sites (e.g., large retail chains)
     Typical applications
    - High speed data transfer
    - Packetized video and audio streaming
    - LAN-to-LAN connections
    - Web content broadcast
     About Ethernet Direct
    - Ethernet Direct is a RAD Data Communications solution for providing transparent Ethernet connectivity over any type of WAN infrastructure.
    - Ethernet Direct comprises a large number of products and applications, all of which are based on the ChipBridge, an innovative chip designed and manufactured by RAD.

    What is the TinyBridge?

    TinyBridge is a miniature stand-alone Ethernet bridge with one Ethernet port and one WAN port. It is used to connect Ethernet LANs over WAN links. The TinyBridge can operate as a layer 2 remote Ethernet bridge or as an Ethernet-to-bitstream converter.

    What makes the TinyBridge unique?

    The TinyBridge is based on the RAD ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) called ChipBridge. This allows the TinyBridge to support WAN links of up to 10 Mbps, provide throughput of 15,000 pps (the maximum theoretical Ethernet throughput) and support 10,000 entries in its internal MAC table - all inside a low cost, plug-and-play, miniature device.

    How does the TinyBridge work in the satellite environment?

    The TinyBridge extends the Ethernet router port over a satellite link. At the central site, the TinyBridge is located between the central router Ethernet port and the data link port of the base station satellite modem. At the remote site, it is placed between the customer premises satellite modem and the Ethernet hub or the back of the user station (directly connected to the AUI port on the user station Ethernet card).
    TinyBridge Application Note Application Drawing
     
    What makes the TinyBridge especially useful in the satellite environment?
    Features Benefits
    Supports up to 10 Mbps data streams from satellite link Suitable for both low and high speed data transfer over satellite links
    Supports transparent change of link speed No need to configure remote sites to support change in satellite link speed ”on the fly”
    Layer 2 bridging/MAC filtering at wire speed

    - Can be used for any layer 3 traffic (e.g., IP, IPX, AppleTalk)

    - Does not depend on user station operating system

    Automatic learning and aging of MAC addresses Adaptive to remote satellite LAN installation
    Guaranteed not to drop frames during processing Does not create unnecessary acknowledgment requests, especially in TCP/IP
    No handshake or synchronization required over WAN link between two TinyBridge units

    - No bandwidth overhead required for handshake

    - No sensitivity to delay or quality of satellite link

    Interfaces between Ethernet and WAN bitstream Decouples remote LAN and router from unstable behavior and link delays on satellite link
    Maximum theoretical throughput of 15,000 packets per second Does not introduce additional delay into satellite connection
    Operates in simplex, half duplex and full duplex WAN mode

    - Supports all types of satellite applications (e.g., broadcast) without the need to change device or configuration

    - Totally insensitive to satellite link delay

    No software configuration – plug and play No need to send technicians to remote sites to install or configure the device
    AUI version Plugs directly into Ethernet card on user station and does not require external power supply
    Built-in wire-speed CRC error detection Filters all bad data at up to 10 Mbps from satellite modem (e.g., due to rain, birds, etc.) without ever ”stalling” and requiring reboot
    Very small and robust Easily delivered to remote customer satellite sites
    Low cost Suitable for deployment in multiple remote sites
    Disadvantages of alternative solutions
    Alternative Solutions Disadvantages of Alternative Solutions
    Proprietary card in remote PC

    - Relatively expensive

    - Limited to specific user platforms and operating systems (e.g., Windows 95 but not Macintosh)

    - Limited to single station (unless using network server)

    - Prone to stall

    - Complex configuration

    - Proprietary to vendor

    Processor-based solutions integrated inside satellite modem

    - May drop frames during processing due to high speed of traffic

    - May stall due to bad data

    - Relatively high cost

    - Relatively low throughput

    Stand-alone bridge/router

    - Relatively high cost

    - May require extensive configuration

    - Relatively large

    - May not support simplex satellite links

    - Relatively low throughput

          		 
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