USER’S GUIDE
412 CyberSWITCH
C
OMPRESSION
O
PTIONS
B
ACKGROUND
I
NFORMATION
The system data compression capability allows the system to negotiate compression algorithms
with a remote device. This compression can be done using some proprietary bridging protocols and
also the PPP CCP protocol.
After successfully negotiating compression, data is compressed by a peer and transmitted to the
system. The system decompresses the data, processes the addressing information contained in the
device data, and transmits the data as required. The converse is also true, the system can receive
data coming from a WAN or LAN, compresses the data before transmitting it to a peer. The net
effect is to increase effective interconnect bandwidth by decreasing transmission time. If
negotiation for compression fails, data is transmitted uncompressed.
The compression algorithm implemented is STAC-LZS. This algorithm is used in all of STAC’s data
compression products. This software version is fully compatible with STAC’s data compression
compressor chips including the multi-tasking features. STAC-LZS data compression is performed
by replacing redundant strings in a data stream with shorter tokens. The STAC-LZS uses a
compression history, or sliding window, as opposed to a structured dictionary. This allows greater
flexibility and a greater number of possible string comparisons during compression process. The
compression history automatically discards old information as new information is processed. Both
the device and system must perform compression using the STAC-LZS data compression
algorithm. The peer and remote compression algorithms must be synchronized, this is
accomplished by negotiating compression at channel connect time. Once this has been
accomplished compressed data can be transmitted. If a transmission problem should ever occur the
problem is detected and compression re-synchronized by the execution of a pre-defined protocol.
C
OMPRESSION
AND
CCP
The Compression Control Protocol (CCP) is one of a suite of protocols which operate under the
umbrella of the IETF’s Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) suite. CCP implementation permits
compression and decompression on PPP links.
During call establishment, an appropriately configured system will attempt to negotiate
compression using CCP and STAC-LZS. The system will support either of two STAC-LZS modes,
sequence numbers or extended mode. This negotiation will take place on all calls. Specific options
used by CCP include:
•
STAC-LZS compression algorithm
•
one history
•
sequence number check mode or extended mode
During CCP negotiations, the system will always propose the use of Sequence Number check mode
first for inbound traffic. The peer has the option to accept or reject this proposal. If the peer rejects
the proposal and counter-proposes STAC-LZS Extended mode, it will be accepted by the system.
For outbound traffic, the system will accept either Sequence Number or Extended Mode.
Once compression has been negotiated, transfers of compressed data can take place across the
Point-to-Point links. Such compressed data packets will be encapsulated as described in the CCP
specification. Received data packets not so encapsulated will be considered to be uncompressed
data and will be forwarded on in the order they were received. Transmitted packets whose
compressed size increases to the point of exceeding the link’s Maximum Receive Unit (MRU) will
be sent uncompressed.
