Abstract
Fear not! The world has not passed you by. Nor has your mind pulled a Rip Van Winkle on you. Networking has not been around forever. Ten years ago, the networking of computers was for techies--another of their black arts. But, as we look around networking is as popular as desktop PCs. It is estimated that over 75 percent of our PCs are networked. Most of you already have a LAN and you are planning to install more. What made networking explode? Well, the computer and telecommunications industries finally "got it." The "it" is standards. Vendors are actively engaged in compatibility, across product lines and, yes, even to competitors. Now, we have almost "plug and play" LANs and networks of networks. As the PC took off in the '80s, ubiquitous networking will mark the '90s. In some respects, our lives are easier, but not unlike the computer industry, you are faced with learning a whole new set of acronyms and "technical" phrases. The network train has left the station, and it is time for you to "climb aboard."This paper will describe the networking technologies needed to make this ubiquity possible. Since nearly all institutions have data networks in place, these networks have to be transformed to make the network at least seem ubiquitous.Then, the paper will review different strategies for constructing universal networks, using pieces of traditional networks. It will also discuss cases where traditional components, such as dial-up modems, continue to play a role. Finally, the paper will discuss network management and strategies for client support.