The OCLC Network: Its Architecture, Application, and Operation Available to Purchase

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.