ATM and
Switching
Technologies
What Is a WAN?
A WAN is a data communications network
that covers a relatively broad geographic
area and that often uses transmission
facilities provided by common carriers.
WAN technologies generally function at the
lower three layers of the OSI reference
model: the physical layer, the data link
layer, and the network layer.
Point-to-Point Links
A point-to-point link provides a single,
pre-established WAN communications path
from the customer premises through a
carrier network.
Point-to-point links are generally more
expensive than shared services such as
Frame Relay.
Circuit Switching
Switched circuits allow data connections
that can be initiated when needed and
terminated when communication is
complete.
Packet Switching
Packet switching is a WAN technology in
which users share common carrier resources.
The carrier can then create virtual circuits
between customers' sites by which packets of
data are delivered from one to the other
through the network.
The section of the carrier's network that is shared
is often referred to as a cloud.
Packet Switching
Virtual Circuit Switching
An initial setup phase is used to set up a route
between the intermediate nodes for all the
packets passed during the session between the
two end nodes.
In each intermediate node, an entry is
registered in a table to indicate the route for
the connection that has been set up. Thus,
packets passed through this route, can have
short headers, containing only VCI. and not
their destination.
Virtual Circuit Switching
The relationship between all packets is
preserved.
Slower than circuit-switching.
Implemented in two formats: SVC and
PVC
SVC
Virtual circuit is created whenever it is
needed and exists only for the duration of
the specific exchange.
Connection will be released and VC ceases
to exist when last packet will be received.
Only one route exists for the duration of
transmission.
Switched Virtual Circuit
Switched Virtual Circuit
PVC
Same virtual circuit is provided between
two users on a continuous basis.
The circuit is dedicated to the specific
users.
No connection establishment and
termination.
Permanent virtual circuit
Virtual circuit wide area network
VCI
VCI phases
Switch and table
Source-to-destination data transfer
SVC setup request
SVC setup acknowledgment
ATM
Part 1
ATM
ATM is a cell-switching and multiplexing technology
that combines the benefits of circuit switching
(constant transmission delay, guaranteed capacity)
with those of packet switching (flexibility, efficiency
for intermittent traffic).
ATM can work hand in hand with other
technologies, such as X.25, Frame Relay, and
Ethernet to provide multipurpose physical
transmission network.
ATM is able to transport a wide range of
information transmissions at high speeds by
dividing data into equal-size cells and attaching a
header to ensure that each cell is routed to its
destination.
Protocol Architecture
ATM is a streamlined protocol with minimal
error and flow control capabilities.
Divides data into small, fixed-size packets
called cells. Each cell contains exactly
fifty-three octets: five octets of header
information and forty-eight octets of data.
A Constant Bit Rate (CBR) is specified for
voice and video. In contrast, applications
that use ATM to send data can request an
Available Bit Rate (ABR) connection.
ATM Device Types
An ATM network is made up of one or
more ATM switches and ATM endpoints.
Protocol Architecture
ATM uses the concept of Virtual Channels (VCs) and
Virtual Paths (VPs) to accomplish the routing of
cells.
ATM uses switches as the primary building block in
the network.
Note:
Note that a virtual connection is
defined by a pair of numbers:
the VPI and the VCI.
ATM Layers
ATM layers in endpoint devices and
switches
ATM Reference Model
ATM layer
ATM headers
QoS
There are four basic types (and several variants)
which each have a set of parameters describing
the connection.
CBR - Constant bit rate: a Peak Cell Rate (PCR) is
specified, which is constant.
VBR - Variable bit rate: an average cell rate is
specified, which can peak at a certain level for a
maximum interval before being problematic.
ABR - Available bit rate: a minimum guaranteed
rate is specified.
UBR - Unspecified bit rate: traffic is allocated to
all remaining transmission capacity.
VBR has real-time and non-real-time variants
QoS Parameters
QoS Abbreviations
