The OCLC Network: Its Architecture, Application, and Operation

The OCLC Network and its associated information processing facilities constitute the largest and most extensive network of its kind in the world. This article presents a technical overview of the existing OCLC telecommunications network, its use, and operation. It includes discussion of: the scope and magnitude of the network and its applications; its technical attributes, traffic, and facilities characteristics; its user types and demographics; the architecture and implementation of the network and its supporting OCLC computer systems; the terminals and workstations utilized; the protocols employed; other networks supported; gateways and linkages supported; costs incurred; diagnostic, maintenance, and operating goals and procedures; vendor service relationships; availability and performance levels achieved; and related network engineering and implementation.