2. Computer Graphics and LANs

Computer graphics today is based on a distributed computing environment and network technology. Interactivity is one of the most important things for graphics applications, and it should make best use of the available resources on the LAN. Typical graphics applications generate huge amounts of data for visualization. The problem now is how to avoid the transfer of a huge amount of data via the network which influences the effectiveness and efficiency of such interconnection

R&D; application in the "House of Computer Graphics" cover areas such as:

• Document imaging and industrial applications, prepress, printing and publishing
• Scientific visualization for technology, science and medicine
• Spatial and geographic graphical information systems
• Animation and high-definition image communication
• Cooperative hypermedia systems
• Computer Supported Cooperative Work
• Multimedia systems and image processing
• Graphics Interactive User Interface Management Systems
• Graphics Systems in Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing
• Graphics Based Tools for Education and Training

All these applications characterize a huge amount of data, complex computational algorithms, high picture quality, realistic presentation, interactivity, a need for user friendliness, a large knowledge base, and a distributed character. As a matter of fact a new style is emerging: client/server graphics applications based on a network model of computer systems. In this model, intelligent workstations (clients) have access to a number of systems (servers) via LAN. To the user, the computer system is not a single computer, but any and all computers on the network that the user can access. LAN has become a necessity.

A complex research environment in the "House of Computer Graphics" is supported through 400 computers, ranging from PCs, workstations, mini and super-mini computers, image processing systems, videodiscs, video-studio equipment, etc. A Local Area Network (LAN) provides a simple and cost effective means of interconnecting data equipment on a single site, permitting each user to communicate with any other and to share these central resources. It also provides access directly from the user's workstation to the Internet. Eight FDDI 3Com routers form the backbone of this network. (Fig. 2)

Figure 2. Backbone Network

Each router serves up to 6 ethernet segments (Fig.3)

Figure 3. Ethernet Segment

Implementing the network involved the use of many different vendors' hardware and software, involving systems ranging from micro to super-mini levels. This LAN is based on Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 protocols. Above the physical and datalink layers there are numerous protocols being used, including Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), DECnet, Appletalk, and other vendor specific and in-house protocols. The local area network in the "House of Computer Graphics" is used for a wide variety of tasks. Some of these include:

• The ability to connect to a host computer from either a desktop terminal or a workstation
• Allowing workstations with limited or no file store to use file store provided by other computers (known as file-servers)
• The construction of a "distributed file system" which allows each participating station's "file system" to be connected globally into one central file system.
• The use of a "compute server" based on remote procedure calls
• Broad use of "printservers capability"
• In-house communication and mailing
• Internet traffic (mail, news, www, wais, etc.)

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